Hopewell Valley Memorial Day observances set Sunday, Monday

Hopewell and Pennington slate annual parades.

By Ruth Luse
   On Saturday, May 24, 6:30 p.m., there will be a Memorial Day picnic for Hopewell Business Association members at Jolly Leigh’s house on Princeton Avenue in Hopewell, next to the Citgo station.
   Bring a covered dish and lawn chair(s). Fireworks will follow later that evening.
   For late reservations, call 466-2669 or 333-1438.
   ***
   Hopewell Valley American Legion Post 339 will hold its annual Memorial Day Parade on Sunday. The parade will line up on East Broad Street at the old Masonic Temple at 12:30 p.m. and kick off at 1 p.m. The parade will march west on Broad Street to the Post Home on Van Dyke Road where the closing ceremonies will be held.
   No rain date is scheduled.
   The line of march is as follows:
   Group 1 — Line up at Elm and Lafayette streets:
   Hopewell Township Police Escort;
   Hopewell Township DARE car;
   American Legion Post #339 Color Guard;
   Hopewell Valley High School Band;
   American Legion Post #339 commander;
   American Legion large flag;
   Vietnam military jeep and Humvee;
   American Legion Post #339 Auxiliary president;
   Hopewell Township Honor Guard;
   The Order of the Purple Heart;
   15th NJ Volunteer Infantry;
   Knights of Columbus Hopewell Council 7103;
   Hopewell Valley Lions Club;
   Hopewell Business Association;
   Hopewell Harvest Fair;
   Hopewell Council of Churches;
   Second Calvary Baptist Church;
   Hopewell Methodist Church;
   Antique Tractors.
   Group 2 — Line up at Maple and Lafayette streets:
   Crescent Shrine Motor Patrol;
   The Tin Lizzies;
   New Millennium Drill Team;
   B.S.A. Hopewell Troop #71;
   Hopewell Cub Scout #71;
   Hopewell Girl Scout Troop 911;
   Hopewell Girl Scout Troop 1034;
   Hopewell Brownie Troop 914;
   Girl Scout Troop 458;
   Montgomery B.S.A. Troop 46;
   Montgomery Pack 850;
   Hopewell Valley Pop Warner Football;
   1955 T-Bird – Bill Furlong;
   1949 Ford Convertible – Robert Cherry;
   1936 Chevy Coupe – Ted Thompson;
   1937 Ford Deluxe Sedan – Russell Snyder1955 Plymouth – George Lee;
   1964 Chevy Pickup — Bob Donaldson and sons;
   1956 Chevy, George Dorsett;
   1956 Ward LaFrance — Jim Heider;
   Hopewell Borough Recreation bicycle.
   Fire company lineup:
   Hopewell Fire Department of Emergency Medical Unit;
   Pennington Fire Company;
   Pennington First Aid Squad;
   Union Fire Company;
   Union Rescue Squad;
   Rocky Hill Fire Company;
   Rocky Hill First Aid Squad;
   Lawrenceville Fire Company;
   Montgomery 2 Fire Department;
   Montgomery 1 Fire Department;
   Amwell Valley Fire Department;
   West Amwell Fire Department;
   Amwell Valley Rescue Squad.
   Hopewell Borough Recreation Committee is hosting a Memorial Day Post-Parade Community Picnic Sunday from 4-7 p.m. at the Hopewell Volunteers Bandstand in Hopewell Park. Bluegrass music will be provided by Riverside. Bring a picnic, blanket and/or chair.
   Nick Toth, co-chairman of the Hopewell Valley American Legion Post 339.
   Broad Street Flag project, said that due to fading conditions and weather wear, all 110 American flags will be replaced for 2003.
   The Broad Street Flag project was initiated by Post 339 in 1991 to support Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. Many nearby communities have followed Hopewell and now show their support of American troops with flags on their streets.
   Anyone wishing to donate to the flag project should send contributions to: American Legion Post 339, P.O. Box 82, Hopewell, 08525 (Note "Broad Street Flags" on check). Names of those making donations will be published at later date.
   Anyone wishing to purchase a flag should call Post 339 at 466-0316 or David Lowe at 279-0587.
***
   THE PENNINGTON MEMORIAL DAY PARADE will begin at 11 a.m. sharp on May 26 (rain or shine). Paraders will proceed from the school district Administration Building on South Main to the town center, then head west on Delaware Avenue to Green Street. Participants will have light refreshments at the parade’s end.
   Kids on Bikes judging will be at 10 a.m. at the Toll Gate Grammar School. Decorate bikes, wagons, scooters or yourself. No motorized vehicles!
   Participants should be at the lineup by 10 a.m. Cars and service equipment will be judged at this time. Those with late entries should contact Emily Schwab immediately at 737-0037.
   Hopewell Valley American Legion Post 339 Firing Squad will remember fallen veteran heroes, beginning at 9 a.m. at the St. James Memorial Monument on Eglantine Avenue. They then will proceed to the Pennington Presbyterian Church Cemetery, the Sun Bank monument at Main and Delaware, the Masonic Temple monument on Burd Street and close out at the African Cemetery on South Main.
   Memorial Day evening will kick off the Pennington Parks and Recreation Commission’s Summer Concert Series at the Howe Commons at 65 S. Main St. Bring a picnic dinner and blanket or chairs at 5 p.m. The Dadz will perform from 5:30-7:30 p.m. in front of the commons.
   Parade judges will be Judge and Jennifer Landis and Al and Geri Farina, all longtime Valley residents.
   All military veterans are welcome and encouraged to participate in the parade. Those who would like to participate should call Sevy DiCocco, veteran coordinator, at 737-9147 — especially if a ride is needed during the parade. Lineup will be at 10:30 a.m. sharp in front of the school district administration building on South Main Street.
   "Honor brave soldiers we loved and lost, hope for peace" will be the theme for the parade. The theme, submitted by Aaron Weisinger-Flood, was picked by the Pennington Parks and Recreation Commission.
   Pennington Cub Scouts, Pack 44, and Mercer County Homeless Veterans’ Relief Fund are sponsoring a food drive during the Memorial Day parade and concert. Non-perishable food drop-off stations will be on the corner of South Main Street and Welling Avenue, Curlis Avenue, Laning Avenue, Academy Street and both ends of Delaware Avenue. Free parade flags will be given to those who bring food. For more information, call J.P. Maman at 466-1418 or e-mail: [email protected].
   The line of march is as follows:
   Pennington Police;
   American Legion 339 Color Guard;
   CHS Marching Band;
   Valley veterans;
   Cyrus Lodge with veterans;
   Former mayors;
   Pennington Mayor and Council;
   Theme Contest Winner;
   The Newt Stewart Trio;
   Pennington Fire Company;
   Pennington First Aid Squad;
   Grand Marshal Larry Rothwell;
   Pennington Quality Market Float, Band and Taskycake Truck;
   Jay and Jayne Neary;
   Council of Churches;
   Pennington Presbyterian Nursery School;
   Hopewell Valley Lions Club;
   Pennington Players;
   Pennington Business & Professional Association;
   Antique cars;
   Boheme Opera Company;
   Hopewell Fire Department and Emergency Medical Unit;
   Union Fire Company and Rescue Squad;
   The Dadz;
   Brownie Troop 1166;
   Brownie Troop 1873;
   Brownie Troop 1384;
   Brownie Troop 1843;
   Brownie Troop 676;
   Girl Scout Troop 648;
   Girl Scout 174;
   Boy Scout Troop 41;
   Boy Scout Troop 44;
   Boy Scout Troop 1776;
   Indian Guides — Princesses;
   Indian Guides — Lenape Guides;
   NJ PT Cruiser Club;
   Late entries;
   Kids on Bikes.