The Spirit of Princeton invites the community to the annual Memorial Day Parade and Dedication Ceremony on Saturday, May 28.
The parade kicks off on Nassau Street at 10 a.m., and at11:15 a.m. the dedication ceremony will be held at Princeton Monument Hall.
The parade features veteran’s groups, marching bands, civic and youth groups, all marching to honor those who have died in military service to their country.Parade watchers can have breakfast before the parade or after the parade at the Princeton Rotary Pancake Breakfast from 8 a.m. to noon at the Palmer Square Green.
All current active duty or veteran service men and women throughout Central Jersey are encouraged to walk in the parade. The speaker at the dedication ceremony this year is Princeton School Superintendent Steve Cochrane.
Among the nearly three dozen groups planning to participate in the parade are: Red Knights Motor Cycle Club; Princeton First Aid & Rescue; Princeton Fire Departments and Auxiliaries; Princeton Police and Color Guard; American Legion Post 76; veterans and assorted military vehicles; MacGregor Pipe Band; government officials and dignitaries; Princeton Girl Choir; Patriotic Bicycle BriGade; New Jersey USA Ambassador Pageant; South Brunswick Girl Scout Troop; Colonial Musketeers Fife & Drum Corps; St. Paul School Cub Scout Pack 1880; Trenton Central High School JROTC; Burlington City High Sschool “Blue Devils” Band; Little League / Girls Softball; 2nd Pennsylvania Regiment; Princeton Cub Scout Pack 43; Princeton Boy Scout Troop 43; Hightstown High School “Rams” Band; and Princeton Girl Scouts of Southern and Central Jersey.; Sunshine Foundation “Sunshine Express.”
New additions for 2016 include: Knights of Columbus (Princeton Council); St. Paul School; and the Bushwackers Drum & Bugle Corps (a Princeton-based marching band).The parade begins at Princeton Avenue and Nassau Street and then heads down Nassau Street to Princeton Monument Plaza, where the ceremony will take place. Small American flags will be distributed, for free, to children along the parade route.
The parade is financed by the Spirit of Princeton, a charitable non-profit group of local residents dedicated to bringing the community together through a variety of civic events., such as the Memorial Day Parade, Flag Day Ceremony, and the Veterans’ Day Ceremony. Donations to Spirit of Princeton are encouraged to ensure the future of these events. See the website for information on how you can “Get into the Spirit“ by donating. The parade and ceremony will take place rain or shine. No political campaigning is allowed in the parade, but local officials will be recognized along the parade route. Participating veterans can park at Monument Hall. Shuttle service is available to the parade start.
For further information about the parade or any of the associated activities, call (609) 430-0144 or visit www.spiritofprinceton.org.
