This year’s theme for the township’s memorial parade is armed services veterans.
By:Lea Kahn Staff Writer
The Lawrence Township Spirit and Patriotic Committee is searching the wild blue yonder for U.S. Air Force veterans and especially retired career U.S. Air Force members to take part in the annual Memorial Day parade, set for May 27.
The committee has located veterans and retired members of the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps, but it has not had much luck in locating U.S. Air Force personnel who have ties to the township, said Steven Groeger, township Superintendent of Recreation. He is assisting the committee is organizing the parade.
It is especially important to find retirees from the military because they are going to be honored in the Memorial Day parade, Mr. Groeger said. All military veterans and retirees are encouraged to join in the parade, however, he added.
Each year, the parade has a theme, Mr. Groeger said. In previous years, veterans of World War II and the Korean and Vietnam conflicts were honored. Servicewomen also have been honored. This year, military retirees are being honored, he said.
Retired U.S. Navy Rear Admiral H. Kirk Unruh is expected to serve as the parade’s grand marshal and principal speaker at the memorial services at Veterans Park, Mr. Groeger said.
The highest-ranking retirees from each branch of the military Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force will serve as honorary grand marshals, he said. It is part of the theme of honoring military retirees.
So far, retired Army Major General Howard Louderback, U.S. Army, retired Navy Captain Barry Nixon, retired Marine Corps Lt. Col. David Donahue have agreed to serve as honorary grand marshals, Mr. Groeger said. All that is lacking is an Air Force retiree.
"It may be that someone has moved into one of the retirement communities in Lawrence (who is an Air Force retiree), or there may be people who grew up in Lawrence or who lived in Lawrence when they signed up for the military," Mr. Groeger said. "Maybe it is someone who lived in Lawrence but who moved away and whose (grown) children still live here."
It is not necessary to be a career military service member to take part in the Memorial Day parade, Mr. Groeger said. The parade is intended to honor all veterans. If a veteran is unable to walk in the 1.5-mile-long parade, transportation in the parade can be arranged, he said.
"We want veterans to be in the parade," Mr. Groeger said. "We want parade spectators to be able to thank the veterans (by watching the parade)."
The Memorial Day Parade will step off May 27 at 10 a.m. at the corner of Princeton Pike and Stonicker Drive and conclude at Berwyn Place and American Legion Post 414, next to Veterans Park.
At Veterans Park, parade participants and spectators will pay tribute to military service members who died defending the U.S. which is the purpose of Memorial Day, Mr. Groeger said. A wreath will be placed at the soldiers’ memorial in the park, he said.
For more information or to participate, call Mr. Groeger at (609) 844-7067.

