Lawrence Township’s annual Memorial Day parade will step off promptly at 10 a.m. May 27 from its starting point at Lawrence High School.
The marchers, led by parade Grand Marshal Paul Tweedly, will march north on Princeton Pike and continue to Darrah Lane, Birchwood Knoll and Oaklyn Terrace to Veterans Park.
The Memorial Day ceremony will take place immediately after the parade. It will feature the parade Grand Marshal, the Lawrence Township Patriotic Committee and music from the Lawrence Township Community Band.
There will be a cannon salute and a wreath-laying at the memorial.
The Memorial Day parade honors the men and women – soldiers, sailors, airmen, Coast Guardsmen and Marines – who made the ultimate sacrifice and paid with their lives in service to the United States, officials said.
All veterans who participate in the parade will receive a Lawrence Township veterans hat in recognition of their military service.
Free hot dogs and water will be served by the Lawrence Township Recreation Advisory Committee after the ceremony.
A Memorial Day decorating contest has been added. Anyone can enter by decorating their bicycle, tricycle, scooter, stroller, wheelchair or wagon in patriotic style. The entry form is available by contacting the Lawrence Township Recreation Department.
Tweedly is better known as Captain Paul. He is the owner of Captain Paul’s Firehouse Dogs on Princeton Pike. He is a retired Trenton Fire Department captain.
“We are honored to have Paul Tweedly serve as the Grand Marshal for the 2023 Memorial Day parade. He is a deserving choice for this esteemed role,” said Municipal Manager Kevin Nerwinski.
The honor of serving as the parade Grand Marshal recognizes Tweedly’s dedication to the men and women associated emergency services – police, fire and emergency medical services – and the military, Nerwinski said.
Tweedly has demonstrated his commitment to the Lawrence Township community by supporting various community organizations and fundraising efforts, Nerwinski said.
Meanwhile, community groups such as the Lawrence Historical Society, the Twin Pine Composite Squadron and the Knights of Columbus Council 7000 will march in the parade.
Marchers also include the Slackwood and Ben Franklin elementary schools, the Lawrence High School Marching Band, Rider University and the Lawrence Ewing Trenton Girl Scouts.
Along with the Lawrence Township Junior Baseball and Softball Association, the Lawrence Junior Cardinals Football and Cheer program, the Lawrence Lacrosse Club, Boy Scout Troop 28 and Cub Scout Troop 28.
And the Lawrence Senior Center, the Eggerts Crossing Civic League, the Patterson Ponies, the Lawrence Township Police Department, and the Lawrenceville and Lawrence Road volunteer fire companies will also march in the parade.
The U.S. Naval Sea Cadets – Dempster Division and American Legion Post 414 will take part, along with the Central Jersey Motor Pool and its military jeeps.
