EDISON — While U.S. Marine Corps veteran John A. Bednar won’t be at the township’s Memorial Day Parade, officials are seeking to ensure that he will be there in spirit.
The township will posthumously honor Bednar as grand marshal of Edison’s 53rd annual parade at noon May 24.
“Mr. Bednar was a proud Marine Corps veteran,” Edison Mayor Thomas Lankey said, adding that Bednar was a lifelong resident of Fords. “Honoring John’s memory as our parade’s grand marshal is the right thing to do.”
The 84-year-old passed away April 8. He had been named grand marshal in March.
Bednar’s family members told township officials that he was so glad to be chosen that he already had his Marine Corps dress uniform retailored to wear in the parade.
A member of the Marine Corps League- Avenel Cpl. Kevin J. Reinhard Detachment, Bednar was also a life member of the American Legion Post 324 of Edison, where he held many posts including chaplain.
Bednar joined the Marine Corps Reserves in 1948, and the Marines in 1950 at age 20. He was an aircraft mechanic stationed at Marine Corps Base-Quantico in Virginia, where he at one time performed maintenance on the presidential helicopter, Marine One. He was honorably discharged in 1952 with the rank of sergeant.
After working for 30 years as an enforcement agent with the N.J. State Police Alcoholic Beverage Control Division, Bednar retired in 1992.
He was a member of Most Holy Name of Jesus Parish-Holy Trinity Church in Perth Amboy; the Senior Citizens Club at the church; the Most Holy Name of Jesus Society; and the Slovak American Club.
The parade will travel down Amboy Avenue, from Walsh Avenue to Brower Avenue. Refreshments, presented by American Legion Clara Barton Post 324, will be served after the parade.