METUCHEN – The Metuchen Area Chamber of Commerce will sponsor the 91st Annual Memorial Day Parade & Ceremony on Monday, May 28.
This year’s theme, “A Century of Service, Honoring our American Legion Post 65 & Boy Scout Troop 14” celebrates that both the local American Legion chapter and its sponsored scout troop are initiating their organizations’ centennial celebrations.
The parade will begin at 10 a.m. at Edgar School on Brunswick Avenue, then travel north along Main Street to end at the newly finished plaza at the intersection of New and Pearl streets.
More than 40 units are expected to participate in the parade, including veterans groups, public officials and organizations, scout troops, ROTC units, youth groups, houses of worship, the Metuchen High School Marching Band, a variety of live entertainment, and more.
The 2018 grand marshals are Chief Warrant Officer Four Isabel Giordano, U.S. Navy Intelligence and Sgt. First Class Verna Martin, U.S. Army, a former drill sergeant. Both women have had significant overseas tours of duty, and Martin served in the Gulf War/Desert Storm.
The 2018 Reviewing Officer is retired Lt. Col. Richard Bordonaro of the U.S. Marine Corps. Among his many tours, he was deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Currently, he serves as an advisory board member and as the director of Military and Veterans Relations for the non-profit American Patriotic Services Organization.
The ceremony will begin immediately following the parade at approximately 11:30 a.m. at the plaza.
Soloist Danielle Illario will perform.
Metuchen students entering the military upon graduation are traditionally honored at the event, and this year will receive a special Centennial Medal from the American Legion.
Winners are chosen from each class for the Memorial Day Poster Contest, and the overall winner’s work is featured on the cover of the ceremony program and is honored at the event.
For more information, contact the chamber office at 732-548-2964 or metuchenchamber@optimum.net.
