METUCHEN — The borough will continue its tradition of honoring the 41 Metuchen men who sacrificed their lives at war, along with the many Metuchen men and women currently serving in the armed forces, at the Memorial Day Parade.
Set for May 25, this year’s parade theme is “Land of the Free, Home of the Brave.”
Military veteran and Metuchen Fire Chief Rob Donnan will serve as the parade’s grand marshal. Donnan served as a combat medic in the U.S. Army from 1985 to 1988.
The Metuchen Area Chamber of Commerce, which sponsors the parade, invites all veterans, community groups, Scouts and youth groups to participate.
The parade kicks off at 10 a.m., rain or shine, at New and Pearl streets. It will proceed down Main Street to Brunswick Avenue, and will be followed by a ceremony at the gymnasium at Edgar Middle School, 49 Brunswick Ave., at approximately 11:30 a.m.
This year’s ceremony will include a special concert with the Spook Handy Trio, a folk group that sings in the tradition of Pete Seeger.
Store windows along Main Street will showcase artwork by borough students depicting the meaning of Memorial Day.
The annual bicycle-decorating contest, coordinated by the Recreation Commission, allows hundreds of children to ride their bikes in the parade.
Borough officials are inviting residents to bring their decorated bicycles, carriages, wagons and strollers to the Pearl Street parking lot by 9:45 a.m. on the day of the parade to participate. Youngsters must wear helmets.
The event is funded entirely through private donations. The Metuchen Area Chamber of Commerce thanked its principal sponsor, Metuchen Savings Bank; platinum sponsor, Applied Research Corp.; and gold sponsor, Victorian Office Rentals.
The silver sponsors are Costello Runyon Funeral Home; the YMCA of Metuchen, Edison, Woodbridge and South Amboy; Berkshire Hathaway Home Services of N.J.; and Costello Runyon Funeral Home. D&S Landscaping, N.J. Convention & Expo Center and Metuchen Assembly of God are bronze sponsors.
Additional sponsors will be featured in the program at the post-parade ceremony.
For more information or to participate, call the Metuchen Area Chamber of Commerce at 732-548-2964 or visit www.metuchenchamberexchange.com.