Annual Memorial Day Parade Set to Kick Off in Scotch Plains and Fanwood on Monday

It's almost that time again to collect your lawn chairs, get your sun block and hat, and find a space on the sidewalk or curb along Park Avenue or Martine Avenue to watch the annual Memorial Parade on Monday, May 30. Don't forget to bring the kids, too, although a lot of them will be participants in the parade.

The parade is set to start at 10:45am in Scotch Plains at the corner of Park Avenue and East Front Streets, by the cannon. It will proceed from there along Park Avenue south into Fanwood on Martine Avenue. The parade will conclude in LaGrande Park.

According to Don Wussler, chairman of this year's event, prior to the start of the parade, there will be observances in both towns. At 8am, the Scotch Plains American Legion will hold a ceremony at their 237 Park Ave. address. Community residents are invited to return after the parade for refreshments. At 9am, a ceremony will be held at the Fanwood Public Library. The public and local officials can attend, and may also return to Scotch Plains for a ceremony at 10am at the cannon, where wreaths will be laid..

This year's parade marks the 70th anniversary of the start of World War 2. There will be four Grand Marshalls, all veterans of the war: Robert Taylor, who flew 58 missions over Germany and received the Distinguished Flying Cross; Frank Russo, a marine officer who served in the Philippines, Samoa, and Australia, earning many medals; Alex DiPace, an Air Force flight engineer with 23 missions over Germany and France; and Rear Admiral George Reider who served with the Seabees.

All area veterans are invited to participate in and will lead off the parade. That includes those who served in Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm, Afghanistan and Iraq.

The parade is expected to have approximately 50 groups involved. They will include the Scotch Plains-Fanwood high school marching band, the Lions' Club, the Little Leagues, soccer participants from grade school on up, the lacrosse team, four or five other bands, antique cars, girl and boy scouts, brownies and cub scouts. A Vietnam veterans' motorcycle group will also participate.

Refreshments will be served in LaGrande Park at the conclusion of the parade.