MEMORIAL DAY HIGHLIGHTS
Hopewell Valley American Legion Post 339 and Hopewell Fire Department will hold the annual Memorial Day Parade on May 30.
The parade will line up on East Broad Street in Hopewell at 12:30 p.m. and step off at 1 p.m., marching west on Broad Street to the American Legion Home on Van Dyke Road, where closing ceremonies will be held.
In case of inclement weather a decision to cancel will be made at 10 a.m. Sunday morning and all participants will be notified by telephone. There will be no rain date.
Since the World War II Memorial will be dedicated this year in the nation’s Capitol, Post 339 is using this event as the theme for the 2004 parade.
The lineup is as follows: Hopewell Township Police Escort; American Legion Color Guard; Hopewell Valley Central High School Band; American Legion commander; American Legion Large Flag; Military Humvee; 15th NJ Volunteer Infantry; Hopewell Township Police Color Guard; Hopewell Borough Fire Department; Hopewell Valley Lions Club; Hopewell Business Association; Hopewell Harvest Fair; Knights of Columbus; Second Calvary Baptist Church; Hopewell United Methodist Church; Cub Scout Troop 71; Boy Scout Troop 71; Brownie Troop 914; Cub Scout Troop 850; Boy Scout Troop 46; New Millennium Drill Team; Pop Warner; Hopewell Borough Recreation bicycles; George Spencer Antique Tractor; Gary Underwood Antique Tractor; Steven Walters Antique Tractor; Jim Heidere 1957 Ward La France; Don Terhune 1965 Mustang; Ted Thompson 1963 Chevy Impala; George Lee 1955 Plymouth; Gavin Hendrickson 1925 Ford Model T; Bob Donaldson 1964 Chevy Pickup; Bob Cherry 1949 Ford Convertible; Jim Pascole 1939 Studebaker Pickup; Russell Snyder 1937 Ford Touring Sedan; Franco Letteri 1960 Pols 356; Ernie Nemeth 1927 Buick; Pennington Fire Company; Pennington First Aid Squad; Union Fire Company; Union First Aid Squad; Rocky Hill Fire Department; 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; and New Brunswick Fire Department.
There will be a Memorial Day Post-Parade Community Picnic from 4-7 p.m. at the gazebo in Hopewell Park. Hopewell Valley Children’s Theatre will perform songs from Mary Poppins and West Side Story. There also will be bluegrass music by Riverside.
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PENNINGTON’S MEMORIAL DAY PARADE, sponsored by the Pennington Parks and Recreation Commission, will held on May 31 at 11 a.m. and will run from the HVRSD Administration Building to the Green Street fields.
Lineup for participants will be in front of the administration building with lineup for children’s groups on the service road between the administration building and Toll Gate Grammar. Line up is at 10:30 a.m. Antique cars and service equipment should arrive at 10 a.m. for judging at 10:30. Last minute entries are welcome. Call or e-mail Emily Schwab at 209-0567 or e-mail: [email protected].
All military veterans are welcome and encouraged to help lead the parade. Meet at the administration building at 10:30 a.m. Contact Sevy DiCocco at 737-9147 prior to the parade if transportation is needed.
The theme and contest winner, "They Fought So We Can Be Free," was submitted by Nadia Fedchin, a fourth-grader at Toll Gate Grammar School. Nadia will be a guest on honor on May 31.
Pat and Pete O’Hara, longtime Pennington residents, will be grand marshals. Mrs. O’Hara considers Pennington her hometown, having moved here at the age of 4. Her parents were active in the community. She and Mr. O’Hara (a Washington native) made Pennington home for their five children. Both have served the community for many years. They have strong feelings about volunteerism and keeping communities strong through caring, sharing and devotion. They encourage all they meet to get involved in local matters.
Beginning at 9 a.m. the American Legion Post 339 Firing Squad will memorialize fallen heroes at all town monuments. The 21 Gun Salute will begin at the St. James monument on Eglantine Avenue followed by the Pennington Cemetery at the Pennington Presbyterian Church, the town center monument at Sun Bank, The Masonic Temple monument on Burd Street and the African American Cemetery on South Main.
Kids on Bikes competition will be at 10 a.m. in front of the Toll Gate Grammar School. Children are invited to decorate a bike, wagon, scooter or buggy (no motorized vehicles). Winners will receive gift certificates for a free scoop of ice cream from Janns Sweet Shop on West Delaware Avenue.
The line of march is as follows: 1. Pennington Police; 2. American Legion #339 Color Guard; 3. Valley Veterans; 4. Grand Marshals; 5. Mayor, Council and Former Mayors; 6. Hopewell Valley High Marching Band; 7. Pennington Fire Company and Ladies Auxiliary; 8. Pennington First Aid Squad; 9. The Newt Stewart Trio; 10. Theme Contest Winner; 11. Trenton Cyrus Lodge; 12. Hopewell Valley Lions Club; 13. Council of Churches; 14. The Pennington Players; 15. Pennington Business and Professional Association with Blawenburg Band; 16. Antique Cars; 17. Individual Antique Cars; 18. The DADZ; 19. Hopewell Fire & Rescue; 20. Union Fire and Rescue; 21. Hopewell Valley Pop Warner; 22. Pennington Presbyterian Nursery School; 23. Brownie Troop 676; 24. Brownie Troop 1166; 25. Brownie Troop 1843; 26. Brownie Troop 910; 27. Boy Scout Troop 41; 28. Boy Scout Troop 44; 29. Boy Scout Troop 1776; 30. Late Entries; 31. NJ PT Cruiser Club; and 32. Kids on Bikes .
Memorial Day events will conclude with a free concert at the Howe Commons, 65 S. Main Street. The DADZ, a local band, will entertain. Bring a picnic basket and a blanket.