Local veterans invited to breakfast
By:Charlie Olsen
The Memorial Day Parade will start at 10:30 a.m. May 27 following a veteran’s breakfast at 9 a.m.
The breakfast, served at the Municipal Complex, will be a hot and cold buffet of bacon, sausage, eggs and french toast. There will also be coffee and tea. After breakfast, the veterans will move to the southbound lane of Auten Road near Randolph Road near the CVS pharmacy.
The parade will commence at 10:30 a.m. and begin to move toward New Amwell Road, where it will turn right. It will continue down New Amwell Road until it intersects Beekman Lane, where the parade will turn left. The parade will make its final turn down South Branch Road and will end at the municipal complex.
A ceremony will be held at the Garden of Honor near the East Side of the complex, which will be followed by a community picnic on the West Side of the complex.
"There is going to be a display of the military vehicles from the parade which will be set up by the food tent," said Rich Resavy, director of recreation. "We are trying to focus the attention on the solemn meaning of the day by not having a party like atmosphere."
Retired Army Col. Stan Lapidow, and his son, National Guard Capt. Jonathan Lapidow, will be the grand marshals for the Memorial Day Parade.
"This Memorial Day we will honor the memory of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom, alongside those who know best what it is like to serve out country," said Mayor Carl Suraci. "Our grand marshals represent those who have served in the past and those who continue to fight to protect our freedom today."
Retired Col. Stan Lapidow has a Ph.D. in Environmental Health Engineering and served in the United States Army Chemical Corps where he specialized in Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Defense Training and Technical Escort operations for weapons of mass destruction.
He remained active in the U.S. Army Reserve program where he was deployed with Special Operations units to Operation Desert Shield, the Haiti and Bosnia conflicts and the Kosovo campaign.
His son, Capt. Jon Lapidow, recently returned from Iraq where he served as battle captain to the 1st Battalion, 150th Aviation division, whose missions included "hero missions" retrieving the bodies of fallen Americans.
Lt. Becky Lapidow, currently 20th Airborne Engineer Brigade serving in Afghanistan, will be in her father and brother’s thoughts as they lead the Hillsborough ceremonies.
Roughly 100 veterans have responded to letters asking their participation. Any military veterans who wish to participate in the Memorial Day program can e-mail [email protected] or call 369-4832.
The rain date for the parade is May 28.

