Three mayor events slated
— The Hopewell Valley Veterans Association (HVVA) will host a Memorial Day event on May 23 at 10:30 a.m. at Alliger Park. HVVA members will welcome keynote speaker Brig. Gen. John M. Nunn, an Iraq War veteran who currently serves as the assistant adjutant general of the NJ National Guard. He is also the director of the National Guard’s Youth Challenge, an intervention program for at-risk teenagers in New Jersey.
In addition, Mercer County Executive Brian Hughes, Hopewell Township Mayor Vanessa Sandom and Pennington Mayor Anthony Persichilli will address the audience.
The HVVA’s ceremony also will include a military fly-over with T-28 Trojan warbirds. The fly-over will be conducted by local resident Andrew Swart, a pilot and member of the T-28 Trojan Horsemen Formation Team. Ms. Swart became interested in flying 30 years ago and was fascinated by the T-28. According to Mr. Swart, the plane was designed in 1949 as a high-performance trainer for the U.S. Air Force, Navy and Marines and was used in limited battle in Southeast Asia during the 1960s. The T-28 Trojan is characterized by a large, powerful engine that allows it to travel at a speed that can exceed 200 mph. Depending on weather conditions Saturday, the fly-over could include up to five T-28 aircrafts in a missing-man formation, which will conclude the ceremony.
HVVA’s event will be held rain or shine. Refreshments will follow the ceremony. For additional information, see www.HopewellValleyVeterans.org.
— On May 24, the Hopewell Fire Department and Emergency Medical Unit will host the Hopewell Memorial Day Parade, which will begin at Taylor Terrace at 1 p.m. and continue down Broad Street, turn onto Princeton Avenue and end at the Hopewell Elementary School. A Memorial Day celebration and awards presentation will take place at the school.
The Hopewell Borough Recreation Committee has announced that Bike Brigade participants should take decorated bicycles to Taylor Terrace at 12:30 p.m. to receive placement in the parade lineup. The Bike Brigade will ride down the parade route with the rest of the procession.
The line of march: United States Marine Corps Color Guard, Hopewell Valley American Legion Post 339 Color Guard and Flag, Saint Anns of Hampton Pipes and Drums, Hopewell Fire Department and Emergency Medical Unit , Ernie Nemeth (1927 Buick Roadster), James Brearley (1930 Ford Model A Coupe), Edward Kwietnieski (1931 Model A Ford Roadster Deluxe), Rick Butera (1931 Ford Truck), Trevor Harms (1942 Willy’s MB), Scott Beaver (1947 Dodge Pickup), Robert Cherry (1949 Ford Convertible), Keith Gwin (1953 Ford Pickup F-100), Bill Furlong (1955 T-Bird), Vince Mendola (1957 Chevy), Richard Kocsis (1955 Chevy Bel Air), Battle of Hunger, Ed Hahn Big Bike, Girl Scout Troop 70458, Pennington Fire Company, Pennington First Aid Squad, Hopewell Cub Scout Pack 71, Hopewell Boy Scout Troop 71, Hopewell Valley CHS Marching Band, Union Fire Company, Hopewell Valley Lions Club, Hopewell Council of Churches, Brownie Troop 625, Montgomery Boy Scout Troop 46, Rocky Hill Fire Department, Red Knights, Ted Thompsen (1963 Chevy Impala), Donald Terhune (1965 Ford Mustang Convertible), Julia Bonnie Schmidtke (1970 Plymouth Road Runner), George Lee (1971 Dodge Dart Swinger), Frank Butera (1976 Starsky & Hutch), Christal Butera (1970 Cadillac Court), New Millennium Drill Team, Cub Scout Packs 185, 181, 850, Montgomery Fire Department #1, Montgomery Fire Department #2, Montgomery First Aid, Hopewell Borough Playground Project, Hopewell Borough Recreation bikes, Steven Walters (1935 Model A John Deere Tractor), Steven Walters (1936 Model B John Deere Tractor), Steven Walters (1942 Model H John Deere Tractor), Steven Walters (1946 Model R John Deere Tractor), Carl Hanson (1952 Model B John Deere Tractor),
After the parade, go to Hopewell Elementary School for the Memorial Day service and closing ceremonies. Hot dogs and water will be available for $1. Ice pops will be free to all children.
The committee will kick off summer at the Post-Parade Picnic (at Gazebo Park), which begins at 4 p.m. Two free concerts will be performed: Miss Amy will perform a children’s concert at 5 p.m. A 6:30 p.m. performance will feature “The Wild Rice Band.” Members of the community should bring their own picnics.
— The Hopewell Fire Department and Emergency Medical Unit is sponsoring an Adopt A Flag Program. For $30 one can purchase an American flag through the department (from you and your family or in memory of a loved one). Flags will be used to line Broad Street in Hopewell Borough from Memorial Day to Labor Day. If interested in adopting a flag, send a check for $30 to Hopewell Fire Department, 4-6 Columbia Ave, Hopewell, 08525, with Adopt A Flag in the memo section. For more information, call 466-0060 and leave a message on mailbox 33. Someone will return your call.
— On May 25, the Pennington Memorial Day Parade’s theme is “Land of the Free, Thanks to the Brave” — the theme picked by contest winner Ryan Butcavage.
Hopewell Valley American Legion Post 339 will begin the day at 9 a.m. with a gun salute at each Pennington monument, first at St. James Chapel on Eglantine, then the Presbyterian Cemetery, Sun Bank, African American Cemetery and lastly, The Masonic Lodge.
Next will the “Kids on Bikes” competition. Decorate bike, wagon, buggy, or scooter and go to Toll Gate Grammar School at 10 a.m. (no motorized vehicles please).
Parade line up will begin at 10 a.m. in front of the Administration Building at 425 S. Main St., with antique car and float judging at 10:30 a.m. Children’s groups will line up on the service road between Toll Gate Grammar and the Administration Building.
Houston and Jenifer Landis are grand marshals of the Pennington parade. They have lived in Pennington for 46 years and reside on Pennington Road with their dog Tillie. They have three children and three grandchildren.
The parade will kick off at 11 a.m., rain or shine. Parade route will be north on South Main to west on Delaware Avenue with parade ending at corner of Green Street and West Delaware. A wreath laying ceremony, including the playing of taps by a Hopewell Valley Central High student, will take place at the town monument on the lawn of Sun Bank at 11:15 a.m. Light refreshments will be served at the end of parade to all participants.
Awards will be given during the evening concert on the lawn of Howe Commons at 65 S. Main St. This is a free concert, sponsored by the Pennington Parks & Recreation Commission, which will host The Dadz, a town band. Bring a blanket, picnic basket and friends for this event from 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Last minute entries can be accommodated by contacting parade coordinators, Michelle Needham, 818-1450, or Ned Fletcher, 737-8825.
The line of march: Pennington Police, American Legion Post 339 Color Guard, Valley Veterans, Grand Marshals Houston and Jenifer Landis, Mayor and Council and former mayors, Hopewell Valley CHS Marching Band, Pennington Fire Company and Ladies Auxiliary, Pennington First Aid Squad, Tree Street Twirlers, Theme Contest Winner, Bagpiper, Trenton Cyrus Lodge, Hopewell Valley Lions Club, Battle Against Hunger, Hopewell Valley YMCA, Pennington Players, DADZ, PBPA with Blawenburg Band, Hopewell Fire Department and EMU, Union Fire Company and Rescue Squad, Antique Cars, Pennington Presbyterian Nursery School, Pennington Farmers Market, Fuzzy Logic Jazz, Marie Moore School of Irish Dance, Victory Tae Kwondo, Daisy Troop 70930, Daisy Troop 70061, Brownie Troop 70942, Brownie Troop 154, Other Brownie Troops, Junior Girl Scout Troop 71313, Girl Scout 70383, Girl Scout Troop 174, Tiger Cubs 44, Cub Scout Pack 556,Cub Scout Pack 44, Boy Scout Troop 41, Boy Scout Troop 44, Boy Scout Troop 1776, Late Entries and Kids on Bikes.