By Mary Ellen Zangara, Special Writer
The grand marshal for the VFW’s 66th annual Memorial Day parade, which will step off at 1 p.m. Sunday, will be veteran Renny Dilks. The parade is sponsored by the Veterans of Foreign War Post 2290.
Memorial Day is set aside to honor those who lost their lives in military service.
This year’s parade route, according to parade CVhairman Fred Gorbatuk, will be the same as last year. The march will step off on Duke’s Parkway, travel down Main Street to Washington Avenue and end at VFW Post 2290.
Afterward, there will be hot dogs and birch beer along with a brief ceremony featuring guest speakers.
Some of those anticipated to participate in the parade include members of Thomas J. Kavanaugh VFW Post 2290 Color Guard and Marching Unit; VFW Ladies Auxiliary Marching Unit; Central Jersey Motor Pool; Manville High School Marching Band; Mayor Angelo Corradino and Borough Council members; St. Jude Council Knights of Columbus; Somerset County 4-H Go-Cart Club; Boy Scout Troop 193; and Cub Scout Pack 193.
All three Manville fire departments and the Manville First Aid and Rescue Squad will be there. Mr. Gorbatuk anticipated more participants, but still was waiting for confirmations.
VFW Post 2290 members and the Ladies Auxiliary will begin their Memorial Day remembrance starting with a 8:30 a.m. Mass at Sacred Heart Church. After Mass, there will be a memorial at the post monument at 11 a.m. followed by the memorial at Sacred Heart cemetery at 11:30 a.m. Before stepping off for the parade, members will have a 12:15 sea service, using the Raritan River at Duke’s Park.
Mr. Gorbatuk said he is looking forward to a sunny Sunday for there is no rain date for the parade. Events will only be cancelled in the event of thunder and lightning.

