By Lea Kahn, Staff Writer
Hopewell Borough’s annual Memorial Day parade, which may be one of the oldest in New Jersey, is set to step off Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m., Led by the Hopewell Fire Department’s Color Guard, the parade participants will march east on Broad Street and then turn onto Princeton Avenue. The parade will end at the Hopewell Elementary School., A reviewing stand will be set up at the parade’s termination point. David Bregenzer II will serve as the master of ceremonies. He is a third-generation member of the Hopewell Fire Department, which is sponsoring the parade., Bregenzer will be joined on the reviewing stand by Hopewell Borough residents and business owners, who will judge the parade floats and participants. Awards will be given in several categories., The ceremony at the Hopewell Elementary School will include the Pledge of Allegiance, led by Montgomery Township Cub Scout Pack 850. Hopewell Valley Central High School senior Veronique Shaftel will sing., The list of parade participants includes the John T. Dempster Jr. Division, U.S. Naval Sea Cadets, Hopewell Valley American Legion Post 339, and the Twin Pine Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol., The Hopewell Valley Central High School marching band and the New Jersey State Police Pipes & Drums of the Blue and Gold will provide music., The Hopewell Fire Department and the Pennington Fire Department, along with their respective Ladies Auxiliaries, will participate., The Union Fire Co. & Rescue Squad, and the Hopewell Fire Department’s Emergency Medical Unit and the Pennington First Aid Squad will march., Also participating are the Rocky Hill Hook & Ladder Co., the Rocky Hill First Aid and Rescue Squad, the Amwell Valley Fire Co. and the Amwell Valley Ambulance Corps., Montgomery Township Volunteer Fire Co. No. 1 and Montgomery Township Volunteer Fire Co. No. 2, along with the Montgomery Emergency Medical Services, will be represented., Montgomery Township Cub Scout Packs 185 and 850 will march, along with Montgomery Township Boy Scout Troop 46., Hopewell Boy Scout Troop 71 and Hopewell Cub Scout Pack 71 will march. The Hopewell Valley Girl Scouts also will take part., An assortment of antique cars, trucks and farm tractors will accompany the marchers, ranging from John Deere and Farmall tractors to classic cars such as 1949 Ford convertible, a Harley-Davidson motorcycle with a sidecar, and a 1935 LaSalle to a 1953 Ford pickup truck., A 1942 World War II-vintage Willys Jeep also will be in the parade, plus the Central Jersey Military Motor Pool. The Hopewell Borough Bike Brigade – youngsters on their bicycles – will ride along, too.
