By Amy Batista, Special Writer
HIGHTSTOWN – Despite gloomy skies and a brief shower, residents gathered from around the surrounding communities and lined the streets of the borough to watch the 96th annual Hightstown-East Windsor Memorial Day Parade on Monday.
“Memorial Day is the time for Americans to reconnect with their history and core values by honoring those who gave their lives for the ideas we cherish,” said Carol Nelson, parade narrator.
More then 1 million American service members have died in the wars and conflicts since the first colonial soldiers took up arms in 1775 to fight for independence, she added.
“Each person who died during those conflicts was a loved one cherished by family and friends,” she said. “Each was a loss to community and the nation.”
During the parade, Ms. Nelson highlighted the parade stops at various monuments along the route. She said as one could see Hightstown and East Windsor come together to pay tribute to every American service member who has died in defense of this great country.
Among the local and county officials were in attendance included Hightstown Mayor Larry Quattrone; Hightstown council members Steven Misiura, Seth Kurs, Susan Bluth, Connor Montferrat and Lee Stults; East Windsor Township Mayor Janice Mironov; East Windsor Township Deputy Mayor Peter Yeager; East Windsor council members Denise Daniels, Marc Lippman, Perry Shapiro, Alan Rosenberg, and John Zoller; Mercer County Surrogate Diane Gerofsky; and Mercer County Freeholder Lucylle Walter.
“Chief Frank Gendron and the members of the Hightstown Police Department wish everyone a happy and safe Memorial Day as we celebrate and pay respect to all those who have served and died for our country and our freedom, as we continue to fight for peace,” said Ms. Nelson. “Chief Gendron and the members of the Hightstown Police Department wish to thank the people for the opportunity and privilege of serving the community.”
She said that the members of the Hightstown Police Department are committed to protecting the lives, property, and rights of all people and being responsive to the community they service through the delivery of quality services.
Around 26 out of the 38 organizations and groups participated in the parade, according to Mayor Quattrone, parade coordinator. He said12 had dropped out.
“The only thing that would have stopped the parade was lightening,” he said. He added that the only time it rained was during the playing of “Taps” at the Hightstown Memorial Library.
“One of the soldiers that was there, a retired vet, he said to me those are the tears of the fallen,” said Mayor Quattrone. “How fitting is that?”
The annual Hightstown-East Windsor Memorial Day parade started on Stockton Street at 9 a.m. and proceeded through the center of Hightstown and ended at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5700 on Dutch Neck Road, in East Windsor.
Before the parade began, the first of six wreaths were presented at the Cedar Hill Cemetery on Mercer Street. During the parade, additional wreaths were placed at various monuments – Civil War Monument, Hightstown Memorial Library, laying the wreath in the water at Peddie Lake, World War II Monument by the rock on Mercer Street, and the VFW.
The grand marshal for this year’s parade was Alvin Millner of East Windsor.
Hightstown High School senior Nicole Charache was the soloist and sang at the Civil War Monument and Hightstown Memorial Library wreath laying ceremonies. Tom Aveni was the bugler and performed in all four wreath laying ceremonies. Sgt. Davide Lammers of the 605th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron with the 305th Air Mobility Wing placed the wreath in Peddie Lake.
