By Jen Samuel, Managing Editor
HIGHTSTOWN — Memorial Day is May 28.
"On the special occasion of Memorial Day, we should reflect on the true meaning of the day to remember and honor the heroic men and women who lost their lives in service to our country fighting to defend and preserve the treasured freedoms and rights we enjoy as Americans,” said East Windsor Mayor Janice Mironov.
In celebration, the 93rd Hightstown-East Windsor Memorial Day Parade will begin at 9 a.m. on Stockton Street in Hightstown. Marchers will make their way from the starting location of Walter C. Black School, 371 Stockton St., and continue to the center of town by approximately 9:30 a.m.
It is organized by a volunteer committee composed of approximately a dozen Hightstown and East Windsor residents — including American war veterans.
Hightstown Borough Council President Lawrence “Larry” Quattrone said he expects 10,000 people to attend. Mr. Quattrone is the coordinator of the Parade Committee.
This year’s theme is, “Honoring Our Brave.”
One wreath will be placed at a memorial for veterans by the main entrance of the Hightstown Memorial Library.
”The Hightstown-East Windsor Memorial Day Parade is a great way locally to come together to honor our service people and celebrate our wonderful community,” Mayor Mironov said. “We always have participating in addition to our veterans, many of our fire company and rescue squad volunteers, local school groups and bands, scout troops, religious and non-profit organizations.”
The event will be held rain or shine.
Noteworthy, five wreaths will be placed throughout the parade route in honor of American veterans. “We encourage everyone in both of our communities to come out and enjoy the event,” East Windsor Mayor Mironov stated.
This year’s Grand Marshal is World War II veteran Edward Hayes of Hightstown.
”He served in Germany during the Second World War,” explained Mr. Quattrone, noting that Mr. Hayes will lay down two of the five wreaths.
An active duty personnel will lay the wreath on Peddie Lake, he said, and Hightstown Engine Co. No. 1 will lay a wreath at Cedar Hill Cemetery on Mercer Street prior to the parade procession.
Marching bands from Kreps H. Melvin Middle School and Hightstown High School are part of the “40 units” participating in the parade, said Council President Quattrone. There will also be an estimated five floats.
The parade will finish as VFW Post 5700, 140 Dutch Neck Rd., in East Windsor Township, where VFW members will lay the last wreath of the Memorial Day parade at there.
There will also be refreshments at the VFW.
”The parade actually makes a big circle,” Mr. Quattrone added.
”It takes months to put it together,” said Hightstown resident Phyllis Deal, who is on the committee. She noted that part of the parade planning includes finding members of the military from joint base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst of the tri-state area to attend.
”We put it out to them that we would like personnel, vehicles and flags,” she said. “They contribute what they can.”
In 2011, the military participated by providing two humvees along with the personnel to support them and a color guard, Ms. Deal recalled.
”We appreciate everything that can be supplied to us and it really makes it wonderful,” she said.
Of the parade, Ms. Deal explained, “(It) brings everyone together because everyone seems to have lost someone.”
The parade is scheduled to pause at the Civil War Monument on Stockton Street for a wreath-laying ceremony and 21-gun salute.
People from Cranbury and Applegarth will also be participating in the parade, which will run for nearly two hours, Ms. Deal explained. Her birthday is May 28, the day of the parade.
Ms. Deal said approximately 45 groups are scheduled to participate.
”There is something for everybody,” she stated.
She recommended folks arrive by 8 a.m. to find parking along side streets or downtown in the municipal parking lot by Tavern on the Lake.
”It’s a wonderful small town day. It really is. People show up, they stand on the side walk,” Ms. Deal said. “It’s just really great.”
Several thousand people are anticipated to watch the historic parade on Monday.
Of the veterans, Ms. Deal said, “It’s wonderful because they’re being recognized.”
Said East Windsor Mayor Mironov, “We have the good fortune to live in the greatest nation in the world and should deeply appreciate and value the tremendous sacrifices made to protect our lives and safeguard our values.”

