Memorial Day services will be held throughout Middlesex County
East Brunswick
The annual Memorial Day observance begins at 1 p.m. on May 29 at Veterans Park at the East Brunswick Municipal Complex, 1 Jean Walling Civic Center Drive, with a flag raising, presentation of wreaths, dedication of veteran tribute pavers and a mini-patriotic concert.
Participating veterans groups include the Vietnam Veterans of America; Jewish War Veterans Post 311; VFW Post 133; VFW Post 133 Auxiliary; and the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary.
Jewish War Veterans Post 311 will serve as the host post this year. Mayor Brad J. Cohen will serve as master of ceremonies. He will dedicate two granite pavers purchased through the Veterans Monument Paver program. Guest speaker will be Capt. Frank Sutter of the East Brunswick Police Department. Other participants include members of the U.S. Naval Sea Cadets Corp. serving as wreath bearers, the East Brunswick High School Brass Choir and the East Brunswick Community Chorus. The East Brunswick girl and boy scouts will be on hand to assist with the color and honor guards.
For more information contact 732-390-6797.
Edison
The 58th annual Memorial Day Parade commences at noon on May 28 at Plainfield Avenue and Division Street, concluding at the Father & Son American Legion Post 435 on Oakland Avenue. Residents of all ages are invited to observe the parade and commemorate the holiday.
Joseph W. Connelly, who served as a staff sergeant in the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam War, will serve as the parade’s grand marshal.
Connelly was born in the Bronx and raised in Staten Island, New York. He joined the U.S. Air Force after graduating high school and attended basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio. After basic training, he went to Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas for technical and mechanical training where he was awarded his career field. Connelly was stationed at Langley Air Force Base in Virginia until he was deployed to Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines from 1965 to 1967. He also had temporary additional duty in Vietnam, Japan and Thailand. Connelly was awarded many medals during his service from 1964-1970.
After returning home from Vietnam, Connelly and his wife Elaine settled in Edison and started a family. He is a lifetime member of Veteran of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 3117 for over 50 years and an active member of American Legion Father & Son Post 435 for over 37 years.
For further information or ADA (American with Disabilities Act) concerns, call the Edison Recreation Department from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 732-248–7310 or visit www.edisonnj.gov.
Metuchen
The Memorial Day Parade will begin at 10 a.m. on May 30 from the American Legion on Lake Avenue to the Metuchen Plaza. A ceremony will follow at Memorial Park on Lake Avenue.
North Brunswick
Memorial Day Commemoration Ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. on May 30 at Veterans Park on Roosevelt Avenue. For more information contact the North Brunswick Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Services at 732-247-0922 ext. 475. Social distancing and masks are required.
Old Bridge
The Laurence Harbor Memorial Day Parade will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on May 30. A portion of Laurence Parkway will be sporadically closed from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. For more information visit www.oldbridge.com.
Sayreville
The annual Memorial Day Parade will be held at 10 a.m. on May 30 from Washington Road at Outlook Avenue to Borough Hall, 167 Main St.
Woodbridge
Township officials along with township Veterans Alliance, Veterans Service Organizations and public safety agencies will host Memorial Day services throughout the weekend.
On May 27, state Sen. Joseph F. Vitale (D-19), state Assembly Speaker Craig J. Coughlin (D-19) and Assemblywoman Yvonne Lopez (D-19) will host a commemoration at 10 a.m. at the Woodbridge Community Center, 600 Main St.
May 29
The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla will hold a service at 9 a.m. at the Sewaren Boat Launch, 648 Cliff Road, Sewaren.
Colonia VFW Post 6061 will host a service at 12 p.m. at post headquarters, 606 Inman Ave., Colonia. Following the services, the Colonia VFW will host a barbecue. Tickets are $25 per person (children under 10 can attend for free). For more information call 732-574-9783.
May 30
Keasbey Fire Company No. 1 will hold a service at 8 a.m. at the Keasbey War Memorial Monument Park, foot of the Edison Bridge on Smith Street. Breakfast to follow at the Keasbey Firehouse, 420 Smith St., Keasbey.
Port Reading Fire, emergency medical services (EMS) and Ladies Auxiliary will hold a service at 9 a.m. at the Port Reading Firehouse, 916 West Ave., Port Reading.
Woodbridge VFW Post 4410 will host a service at 10 a.m. at the Woodbridge VFW, 393 Pearl St., Woodbridge.
Avenel VFW Memorial Post 7164 will hold a service at 10 a.m. at the post headquarters, 60 West Park Ave., Avenel.
Woodbridge American Legion Post 87 will host a service at 10:30 a.m. at the post, 314 Berry St., Woodbridge.
Fords VFW Memorial Post 6090 will conduct a flag-raising service at 11 a.m. at the Fords War Memorial Monument at King Georges Post Road and Corrielle Street in Fords.
Iselin VFW Memorial Post 2636 will host a service at 11 a.m. at the VFW Memorial outside post headquarters on Auth Avenue in Iselin. Refreshments provided after the service.
Bishop Elias Lorenzo of the Archdiocese of Newark will honor America’s fallen heroes during a Memorial Day Mass at 11 a.m. at St. Gertrude Cemetery, 53 Inman Ave., in Colonia.
More ceremonies on May 30
American Legion Post 253, 50 Devoe Avenue, Spotswood: 8 a.m. breakfast followed by 9 a.m. ceremony and memorial bench dedication. Presented by Herman R. Lettau American Legion Post 253 and John J. Carney VFW Post 4589;
Frost Wood Cemetery, 336 New Brunswick Ave., East Brunswick: 9:15 a.m. ceremony;
Holy Trinity Cemetery, Route 522, Jamesburg: 9:30 a.m. ceremony;
St. George’s Church, 56 Main St., Helmetta: 9:45 a.m. ceremony;
Helmetta Fire Monument, Helmetta Borough Hall, 51 Main St., 10 a.m. ceremony;
Reformed Church, 429 Main St., Spotswood: 10:15 a.m. ceremony;
St. Peter’s Church, 505 Main St., Spotswood: 10:30 a.m.;
First Aid Monument, Vilet Street and Main Street, Spotswood: 10:45 a.m. EMS service;
Firefighters Monument, Snowhill Street and Manalapan Road, Spotswood: 11 a.m. firefighters service;
Police Monument at Spotswood Borough Hall, 77 Summerhill Road: 11:15 a.m. police service; and
Spotswood War Memorial and Veterans Walkway, Summerhill Road: 11:30 a.m. veterans service
South River parade kicks off at 1 p.m. beginning on Hillside Avenue near Main Street, right onto Main Street, right onto Jackson Street, left onto Ferry Street, left onto Main Street, ending on Main Street near the War Memorial Building.
The South River Fire Department will be holding a Memorial Day service at 9 a.m. in front of the Jackson Street Firehouse.
