Memorial Day Parade on Raritan
Anticipation, an empty street with onlookers:
Finally, the parade begins:
The Highland Park politicians march toward the front of the parade. The woman in the red hat is Mayor Meryl Frank. Elsie Foster-Dublin, a councilwoman, is wearing a red blazer and waving. Jon Erickson is on the far left. Padraic Millet is new to the council.
Oops, missed one. At the left is Councilman Gary Minkoff. One of the nice things about living in a small borough like Highland Park is you can be on a first name basis with the politicians.
Gary looks like he is having a nice time, saying hello to the many folks he knows. Including us.
And the parade continues:
New Brunswick marchers are part of the parade. The dancers are always a treat:
If you play on a Highland Park Recreation softball team, you get to march in the parade. My daughter saw a friend from her ballet class marching with her mom:
Here are some Girl Scouts (actually, Brownies). We know some of these girls well.
The Cub Scouts marched next. This is the first year in a while that I am not marching; my son is now a Boy Scout, and he is up in a Boy Scout camp in Northwest New Jersey this weekend. Having a grand old time, I’m sure. He called yesterday to say he was on top of a cliff.
This is Mason Resnick, a professional photographer. And a friend. Here are some photos he took of the Highland Park Street Fair.
And more here by Mason. And here, too.
Wouldn’t be a local parade without the firetrucks:
Highland Park First Aid Squad is a group of dedicated, hard-working volunteers:
If you’re still with me, the parade ends with short speeches by some veterans and by Mayor Meryl Frank. She mentioned that her father is a World War II veteran. She also said the world was more black-and-white then; now there are more shades of gray.
Here’s the Highland Park High School band:
The bands (there was more than one) played the National Anthem. We said the Pledge of Allegiance. Towards the end, someone sang God Bless America. At the very end, a band played Taps.
Part of the end of the ceremony was laying a wreath under the Doughboy statue.
Next week I will probably be marching with the Boy Scouts in the Salute to Israel Day Parade in New York City.
Ilana-Davita says
Thanks for sharing.
leoraw says
Ilana-Davita, maybe next Veteran's Day(November 11) you can tell us a little about those World War I battles that were fought near your home.
Rivster says
Such a lovely smalltown-feel. It seems as though the entire town took part in today's memorial. That's really nice.
Ilana-Davita says
Great idea! There are countless sites and memorials in my area. I'd have enough material for a Veteran's Day post for at least three lives.
hihorosie says
Looks fun and a great turnout too!
HomeSpun Granny says
Great photos! Thank you for sharing your memories. Nice blog you have here.
We also appreciate that you visited and left a comment on our blog.
HomeSpun Granny
leoraw says
Rivster, seems as though the entire town
Unfortunately, not everyone goes. Two members of my household stayed home.
Rosie, yeah, my daughter and I had a nice time. We saw some of her friends at the end.
Ilana-Davita, I'm looking forward to it. I'll remind you in October.
leoraw says
HomeSpun Granny, Thanks for visiting. I'll go back to your blog again soon. I like your health posts.
Jameel @ The Muqata says
I wonder why culturally, there is such a difference between the US and Israeli commemorations.
While parades are good for raising some sort of awareness, do they really evoke empathy for the fallen soldiers and offer solace to the their families? I'm not sure anything really can comfort the families...but in Israel the atmosphere is much more solemn.
leoraw says
Jameel, in the U.S., for better or for worse, we pay others to do our battles. I looked online yesterday (Home News Tribune), and neighboring towns had more tear-jerky memorials, because boys from those towns had really fallen in battle. Recently. In Israel, everyone knows someone who has died, either in war or in a terror attack, or both. And that's not even counting those died in the Shoa.
I like the American tradition of parades...for America. It works here. I think some towns are beginning to have more meaningful tributes. See who is in the parade...veterans, firemen, police, first aid squad (yeah! great group here), Scouts who may be future leaders...we salute them.
Mason says
Nice shots!
Thanks for linking to my photos of the street fair! I should have my pix of the parade up by the end of the week.
-Mason
leoraw says
My pleasure, Mason. Looking forward to seeing your pictures.
Mason says
They're up!
http://blogandwhiteworld.blogspot.com/2008/05/street-photos-memorial-day-parade.html
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