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Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 7339
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, April 30, 2006 - 7:07 am: | 
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Following LAS' example with her birthday party thread, I will be posting at least one fact a day between now and May 29, 2006. Please feel free to jump in any time with questions and comments regarding the parade.
Fact number 1: Everyone is invited to come to the Maplewood Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony on Monday May 29, 2006. |
letters
Citizen
Username: Letters016
Post Number: 528
Registered: 5-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, April 30, 2006 - 10:10 am: |
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Let me be the first to say,
Thanks, Joan, and to all that make this wonderful event possible every year! |
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 7345
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, April 30, 2006 - 10:39 am: |
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Letters:
Thank you for all the work you do with Troop 5 BSA, which participates in the Memorial Day Parade every year.
Most people may think of the Memorial Day Parade as just being sponsored by the Maplewood Memorial Post 10120 VFW but there are so many many people each year who come together to make this parade and the ceremony which follows possible. The short list includes the Veterans of all wars who fought on behalf of our country to protect the freedom we enjoy; the township government (TC and departments) who approve the parade route, participate in the parade and ceremony, and provide the police and public works support needed; the many community organizations (such as Troop 5) who march in the parade every year; the countless number of persons who turn out each year to watch the parade and then attend the ceremony at Town Hall which follows; the business owners who display the informational flier telling everyone when and where the parade will be held so people new to our community will be able to attend; the community leaders who participate in the ceremony every year; the list goes on and on.
You should really thank yourself and much of the rest of our community because everyone truly works together to make this parade happen. |
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 7346
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, April 30, 2006 - 10:46 am: |
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An extra special thank you to Joy, who has offered to try and design a new poster for us to display in shop windows this year and to all of the MOLers such as Letters who help to make this a great parade and ceremony year after year by participating in the parade and ceremony or turning out to watch.
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Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 7362
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, May 1, 2006 - 4:45 pm: |
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Fact Number 2: The parade will start at 9 AM. The parade route is as follows: CHS Student Parking Lot to Maplewood Avenue to Baker Street to Valley Street to Town Hall. |
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 7367
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 2, 2006 - 4:46 pm: |
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Fact Number 3: There will be a brief Memorial Day Ceremony in front of town hall immediately following the parade. |
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 7374
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 3, 2006 - 5:02 pm: |
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Fact Number 4: The parade will go on unless it is raining so hard that persons on the sidewalk can't see marchers two feet in front of them or lightning strikes along the parade route. Both have happened in recent years. |
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 7378
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, May 4, 2006 - 5:04 pm: |
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Fact Number 5: Over twenty-five youth, school, community, religious, service, and civic organizations participated in last year's parade. Nineteen different organizations have already signed up for this year's parade. |
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 7380
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, May 5, 2006 - 4:55 pm: |
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Memorial Day this year will be an especially memorable one for me because I will be remembering two Veterans who died in the past year.
The first, a highly decorated World War II veteran lived a long and productive life. He was passionate about everything he did. Even when he was on his death bed he was trying to do what he could to try and save a local community service organization for which he cared deeply. This long time Maplewood resident will be sorely missed by all who knew him.
The second, whom I first met when he was about 10 years old, was stationed in Iraq when he died. He was also very passionate about life and about his community. In my opinion, he was far too young to die when he did. This Columbia High School graduate will be mourned by all who knew him.
Is there anyone special you will be thinking of as you watch the parade pass by or listen to the memorial service which follows at Town Hall? |
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 7389
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, May 6, 2006 - 5:19 am: |
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Fact Number 6:
MOLer Joy designed a great poster which will be used to let everyone (who isn't reading this thread) know the details about the parade and ceremony. Thanks again Joy! |
letters
Citizen
Username: Letters016
Post Number: 540
Registered: 5-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, May 6, 2006 - 7:47 am: |
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Joan,
To answer your question, I think of 4 people in particular now on Memorial Day.
The first two are guys that I played ball with when I was growing up. Both died in Viet Nam but, unfortunately, only one body came home. The other was never found.
The third person is someone that I have spoken about on MOL previously, a gentleman who was a genuine war hero during WWII, but kept pretty much to himself later in life. It wasn't until he died that we found out about his deeds. Thanks to State Senator and New Brunswick Mayor Lynch, there is a memorial to him in the New Brunswick town hall.
Finally, now I think of my father, who died last August. He was a bombardier/navigator on a B-17, assigned to 8th Army Air Force in England. When I go through his memorabilia that he kept, it is like reading about the major offensives during 1943-45. He was involved in some of the most horrific bombing campaigns (Hamburg, Dresden) and also some of the biggest battles, D-Day, The Battle of the Bulge.
When it was my turn, they were cutting back on the draft and I never was called up. Therefore, I cannot possibly understand what any of these people lived through. The best that I can do is look into the eyes of veterans and try to understand what they feel since most of them never talk about it.
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Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 7398
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, May 7, 2006 - 8:00 am: |
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Fact #7: The very best place to view the parade is right across the street from Town Hall. This way, you will have a front row view point for the ceremony which follows the parade. The next best place to view the parade is in the Village because then you can see the whole parade and then go through the underpass and get to town hall at about the same time the parade does and watch at least part of it all over again.
Fact #8: The very best way to experience the parade is by being in it. It's still not too late for your organization to sign up to be in the parade. Just send me a PL with the details: name of organization, name of contact person, way to contact that person if needed. |
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 7403
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, May 8, 2006 - 4:40 pm: |
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Fact #9: Not everyone in town reads MOL but people from every part of town do. Please help to spread the word by telling your friends and neighbors, especially those new to the community who may not have attended in previous years, about the parade and ceremony. |
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 7406
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 9, 2006 - 4:54 pm: |
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Fact # 10: Veterans are encouraged to participate in the Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony. If a veteran wants to march with the color guard, the uniform of the day is blue blazer, white shirt, grey slacks, and striped tie. No uniform is necessary otherwise. If a veteran wants to ride, rather than walk, in the parade let me know and I will try to arrange a ride but do it soon since we are getting close to parade day. |
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 7409
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 10, 2006 - 6:40 pm: |
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Fact #11:
The following organizations which either participated in the parade last year or expressed interest in participating this year still have not told me whether they plan to be in this year's parade. If you are a member of one or more of these organizations and know whether any of them plan to participate this year, please let me know ASAP so the order of march can be finalized.
SO/M School Board
YMCA Explorers
Durand Hedden Jr. Docents
Maplewood Community Band
St George's Church
Morrow Church
Knights of Columbus
Village Alliance
SOMBI
Springfield Avenue Partnership
CCR
Lions
MOL
Seth Boyden Demonstration School
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Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 7415
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, May 11, 2006 - 7:10 pm: |
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The flags have arrived!
Fact #12: The flags are for the children who are participating in the parade. If you are an adult who is participating in the parade, please don't ask for a flag for yourself unless we have been able to distribute flags to all the children first. The parade has grown so large in recent years that no matter how many flags we order, we never seem to have enough for all the children who participate.
Volunteer opportunity: We could really use a volunteer to help out on parade day by distributing flags to the children as they arrive at the staging point (Student Parking Lot) on parade day. If you are interested in doing this, please post your interest here or send me a PL. This is something you can do even if you plan to march in the parade.
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Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 7419
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, May 13, 2006 - 2:04 pm: |
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Wow! Talk about quick response! Thank you so much to the MOL celebrity who has volunteered to serve as dispenser of the flags at the parade assembly point!
Things are really shaping up. Off to Mayfest to spread the word about the parade. More later. |
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 7420
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, May 13, 2006 - 4:51 pm: |
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Joy:
I received a great many complements today on your flier design. Thank you again for all your help. Your flier is now being displayed in shop windows and on shop bulletin boards throughout Springfield Avenue and Maplewood Village.
Thank you so much to all the merchants who agreed to display the fliers and special thanks to the merchant who agreed to place a flier in the bag with each customers purchase. |
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 7430
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, May 15, 2006 - 4:55 pm: |
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Thanks to the volunteers who are distributing parade fliers to the businesses on Irvington Avenue. Here's hoping persons from all over Maplewood and the surrounding area hear about the Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony and make plans to come if they will be in the area that day.
It's amazing to me that there are long term residents, like the man I spoke with this morning, who have lived in Maplewood for years and have never heard of the Memorial Day Parade, let alone seen it. Please tell your friends and neighbors who are not marching in the parade to come out and watch. Parade route, time, and good viewing spots are posted above.
Thank you so much to Mr. Bauer for responding so graciously to my last minute e-mail yesterday and confirming that the Columbia High School Marching Band will be participating in both the parade and the ceremony again this year. If all goes well, we will have a second band in the parade this year! That is really a pleasant surprise. |
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 7436
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 16, 2006 - 8:04 pm: |
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We ran out of fliers! Hopefully, we can get more duplicated in time for the weekend. Weather permiting, I hope to see many of you in the Village on Saturday morning. Please drop by and say hi!
If anyone has any questions regarding the parade, this is a great place to post them. I will try to answer them as soon as possible. |
joy
Citizen
Username: Joy
Post Number: 454
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 16, 2006 - 8:20 pm: |
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Joan - thanks you for all you've done!
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Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 7437
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 17, 2006 - 4:58 pm: |
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Joy:
Thanks for all you've done. Looking forward to seeing you at the parade. |
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 7440
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, May 18, 2006 - 4:53 pm: |
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I just received the list of members of Maplewood Memorial Post 10120 VFW who died in the past year. It is so much longer than I remember it being in recent years. There will be a great many people to remember at the Memorial Day ceremony this year. The list includes well known Maplewoodians such as Clifford Freeman and Bob Grasmere who contributed so much to our town during their lifetime and so many others whose names will be recognized as long time friends and neighbors.
In addition to calling the role of recently deceased VFW members, we would like to mention the names of any Maplewood natives and/or residents who died while on active duty with the armed forces in the past year. If you know of any such persons please PL me with the details.
For those of you who may be unfamiliar with the Memorial Day ceremony in Maplewood, it is held every year in front of town hall immediately following the parade. I hope everyone who attends the parade will come to/stay for the ceremony.
See you on Memorial Day! |
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 7441
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, May 18, 2006 - 8:02 pm: |
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Welcome to the 1st Unitarian Universalist Church of Essex County which will be joining the order of march for the Memorial Day Parade for the 1st time.
If your group would like to participate in the parade it is still not too late to sign up. Please send me a PL with the name of your organization and the name and contact information for someone we can contact to confirm your participation. |
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 7443
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, May 19, 2006 - 5:11 pm: |
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Just received a couple of hundred additional fliers. Weather permitting (anything short of a torrential down pour), I should be in the Village tomorrow morning spreading the word about the parade and ceremony. Please stop by and say hello. Also, this would be a good opportunity for an update if I haven't heard from your organization yet reconfirming your participation in the parade.
Members of Maplewood Memorial Post 10120 plan to be in Village tomorrow morning as well. They will be selling poppies. Please give them your support. It's for a very good cause. |
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 7446
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, May 20, 2006 - 1:37 pm: |
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It was a great morning for being out on Maplewood Avenue publicizing the parade and so nice to chat with all the MOLers who stopped by to say hello. What amazed me was that nearly half of persons I spoke with this morning had never heard of the Memorial Day Parade! Please help spread the word.
As of today, I have 41 groups (Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts count as one group each) who are either definite or maybe for marching in the parade. If your group would like to participate and we haven't spoken yet, please send me a PL with the name of your group and contact information. With this many people participating, it would really help to have some advance idea of which groups are coming so we can assign each a slot in the parade.
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Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 7451
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, May 21, 2006 - 2:13 pm: |
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Thank you so much to the girl scout leader who send me a copy of the e-mail from South Mountain Girl Scouts advising girl scout troops to assemble at the Columbia High School Student Parking Lot between 8:30 AM and 8:40 AM.
If possible, I would appreciate it if all marchers, including the Girl Scouts, could be at the Student Parking Lot by 8:30AM.
I am making this request, because of the number of marchers and groups participating this year. Last year, we were not able to start the parade until 9:20 AM because it took so long to line everyone up. This year we are hoping to begin lining people up no later than 8:30 AM, in the hopes of starting the parade on time. |
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 7453
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, May 21, 2006 - 7:29 pm: |
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Thank you to MOLer connected with the girl scouts for confirming that the girl scouts will now be asked to arrive at the Student Parking Lot by 8:30 AM on Memorial Day. The MOL network is absolutely amazing!
Volunteer Opportunity: If you would like to help the marchers line up for the parade, please send me a PL with your choice of your name (real or MOL if different) by this coming Friday. Volunteers should be at the Columbia HS Student Parking Lot by 8 AM on May 29th. |
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 7459
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 8:36 pm: |
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JAC's young volunteers have just confirmed that they will be in the parade. There are still a number of organizations that have not yet confirmed they are marching. If you know that includes your organization please get back to me as soon as you can. |
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 7471
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 23, 2006 - 6:32 pm: |
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Thank you to the MOLer who e-mailed me to say that the Fire Department had not been formally invited to participate in the parade. I have e-mailed both you and the Chief with a formal invitation. In the past I have always been told by Fred Profeta and the other members of the TC that it was unnecessary to notify the individual departments but Joe Manning may have a different policy.
If any other Department representatives (Police, Public Works, etc.) have a similar problem please let me know and I will get an immediate invite to you and your department head.
Thank you to the MOLer who has volunteered to help line up and start the marchers on parade day. If anyone ellse would like to help at the parade site on Memorial Day, please let me know. I can certainly find something for you to do and your help will be most appreciated. |
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 7475
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 8:07 pm: |
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Early weather prediction for Monday is warm and mostly dry. Sounds like great weather for a parade. However, if there should be a thunder storm or a very heavy rain at parade time, we will cancel the parade and hold a ceremony inside town hall beginning at 9:30 AM. |
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 7476
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 8:12 pm: |
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Warning: The following message is being cross posted to spread the word quickly:
Jamie has agreed to have a group from MOL march in the parade but he warns it will strictly be BYOB (Bring Your Own Banner). If you would like to march with other MOL posters, please either indicate by posting a message in the Memorial Day Parade thread in Virtual Cafe or send me a PL.
Anyone wanting to march with the MOL contingent should be at the Columbia High School Student Parking Lot at 8:15 AM on Memorial Day. Since some of our newer posters may not recognize the group, an assembly space for MOL will be provided assuming someone expresses interest. |
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 7485
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, May 25, 2006 - 5:21 pm: |
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As of now, space in the parade has been reserved for each of the following groups:
Parade Committee
Veterans with Honor Guard
Maplewood Glee Club
Vintage Jeep transporting WWII Veteran
Police Honor Guard
Township Committee
Municipal Employees: Police, Fire
Board of Education
Columbia High School Marching Band
Girl Scouts
Boy Scouts
South Mountain Y
Bette White Dancers
Jr. Docents - DurandHedden
JAC
Maplewood Boys’ Lacrosse Club
Girl's Recreational Softball
Seth Boyden Demonstration School
Any other youth groups
St George's Church
Morrow Church
1st Unitarian Universalist Church of Essex County
Knights of Columbus
Civic Association
Citizen’s Budget Advisory Committee
Fouth Of July Committee
South Mountain Peace Action
CCR
SA Partnership
MOL
SOPAC
SOMBI
Other adult groups on foot
Hilton Neighborhood Association
Community Band
CCN
Rotary
South Orange/Maplewood Elks
Lions
Other adult goups in vehicles
Kiwanis
First Aid Squad and Bikers
Town Vehicles: Fire Engines, DPW
If your group is not listed, and you would like to be included , please send me a PL ASAP.
The following persons have expressed interest in forming an MOL contingent for the parade but none has actually volunteered to be in the parade:
Just the Aunt
Matt Foley
Monster
Soulful Mr. T.
Just the Aunt would need to ride in the parade. If an MOL group wants to drive the parade route let me know and I will put you in the vehicle portion of the parade.
Please let me know who would actually like to participate, if anyone. You do not have to be an MOL celebrity like those listed above. Anyone who posts is eligible to join this group.
Thanks. |
Just The Aunt
Supporter
Username: Auntof13
Post Number: 5160
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, May 25, 2006 - 9:07 pm: |
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Joan-
I can help hand out some fliers for you in South ORange tomorrow night at the Goat if you want. Ask some of the stores around the station if we can put a sign up. Maybe put one up at the Library, Community Center, train station, Bunny's, the Village Diner. I'll pass the informaiton around to my neighbors. Are the baseball teams marching? When I asked my sister she told me "The boys aren't marching!" I don't know if it's because they are going to be away, or because the teams aren't marching. |
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 7489
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, May 26, 2006 - 4:43 pm: |
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Just the Aunt:
I have plenty of fliers left if you want to pass some out tonight. You know where I live. Send me a PL if you have forgotten and I will reply with our address.
Re: Baseball teams: Hank spoke with me last week about the possibility of some of the girls' teams marching. I told him I would reserve a space in the order of march for them. I have heard nothing from the boys' teams. If any wish to join the parade they are welcome to do so but I would appreciate some advance notice so I can give them a slot in the parade.
I estimate conservatively that we could have as many as 500 - 600 persons marching this year if all the groups which expressed interest show up at the Lot.
If you decide that you don't want to be in the parade (as part of the MOL contingent, assuming one forms, or as a member of any of the other groups which plan to march) I hope you will come and watch -- the parade starts at 9 AM -- and then come to Town Hall immediately after the parade for the memorial ceremony.
See you soon. |
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 7497
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, May 27, 2006 - 12:51 pm: |
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The word is really getting out now. This morning in the Village, people were actually coming up to me and telling me they would see me at the parade.
Please remember that the parade is only part of Monday's celebration. Hopefully, everyone marching or riding in the parade or watching the parade from the sidelines will come to town hall as soon as the parade passes by (in the case of those watching) or stay at town hall (in the case of those in the parade) and attend the moving memorial day service which follows the parade.
I have been promised by its organizers that the Duck Races will not start until after the memorial service is over. |
Mary_anne
Citizen
Username: Mary_anne
Post Number: 2
Registered: 8-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, May 28, 2006 - 1:53 am: |
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In honor of our beloved LCPL Edward "Augie" Schroeder II USMC, the 3rd Grade Girl Scouts from Clinton School will carry a banner in remembrance of him at the Memorial Day parade here in Maplewood.
The troop's co-leader Rebekah Gale, was a classmate of his at Clinton.
The troop learned about Augie from Rebekah and her mother, Lynn, at a recent meeting where they saw pictures of him when he was about their age. This had an impact on the girls as they were able to relate to the picture of the young Augie.
Augie continues to live on in the hearts and minds of this community, and the banner was conceived as a way to pay tribute to one lost who was so loved. |
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 7503
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, May 28, 2006 - 8:14 am: |
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Mary Anne:
I thought this was a wonderful idea when Lynn and Bekah asked me if it was ok for the girls to this. It certainly helps to bring the reality of Memorial Day much closer to them and to others who watch the parade.
Unfortunately, our community lost Augie this year. (I will always remember him as the 10 - 11 year old boy scout who joined Troop 3 while I was a member of the Troop Committee there, occassionally car pooled with our son for scout activities, and worked with him at Glen Grey.) Fortunately, Augie is the only local person I know of from our community who died in the past year while on active duty with the U. S. Armed Forces.
For the first time this year, we are going to mention the name of a veteran during our memorial service who was not a member of the local VFW post or of the local American Legion. I would not be surprised if Augie's name is mentioned during the speeches and/or prayers offered during the ceremony as well.
This is going to be a very personal Memorial Day for us all. In addition to Augie, a larger than usual number of VFW members, some of who were (and remain)household names in our community died during this past year. They too, are remembered fondly by all who knew them.
If anyone reading this knows of a local resident or native who died while on active duty with the U. S. Armed Forces during the past year, please get me the information immediately so that person's name can be included in the roll call of those who went absent with leave during the past year. |
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 7511
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, May 28, 2006 - 1:00 pm: |
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I'm sorry to report that due to illness the Jr. Docents from Durand Hedden House will not be joining us in the parade this year.
If there are any other groups which will be unable to march this year due to unforseen circumstances, please let me know. |
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 7512
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, May 28, 2006 - 8:35 pm: |
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Every thing is as set as it is going to be. I hope to see everyone who is in town at the parade tomorrow morning. Please stay afterward for the ceremony at Town Hall. |
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 7515
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, May 29, 2006 - 7:08 am: |
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Here is a list of those Veterans and active military who died during the past year and whose names will be mentioned during this morning's memorial service.
Ed Berzott, Greg Burke, Bob Cameron, Al Daher, John Dougherty, Cliff Freeman,
Harold Gernait, Bob Grasmere, Leonanrd Salkin, John Verducci, Danny Parisso, and Edward Schroeder
May they all rest in peace and may we take some time today (and hopefully every day) to remember them and thank them for what they have done for our country.
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Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 7524
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, May 29, 2006 - 4:41 pm: |
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Thank you so much to everyone who made today's Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony possible. The list is much too long to include everyone but I would like to give special thanks to Lydia, Cameron and Fluffy for helping to hand out flags to the youngest of our marchers; Margaret, Bekah and Joe for getting everyone lined up on time and ready to march; Joy for designing this year's parade and ceremony flyer; Henry for driving the jeep; Art, Bernie, John and Paul for serving in this year's VFW Color Guard; Sally for organizing and coordinating the girl scouts and scouters in the parade; the directors and members of the Coluumbia High School Marching Band, the Maplewood Community Band, and the Maplewood Glee Club for providing the music for the event and Willie and buglers for a stunning rendition of Amazing Grace and Taps at the conclusion of the ceremony; the clergy, the Mayor and the Veterans who spoke at the ceremony; the police officers who formed the honor guard plus those others who joined the order of march and the police officers and auxiliary officers who secured the parade route for us; the Public Works officials who helped get everything ready for the ceremony, set up the chairs and the sound system, moved the tomb (no small feat) and otherwise enabled us to have a flawless program; the News Record and MOL for providing advance information on the day's activities, the people who marched, the people who watched, the people who provided space in their shop windows and on their bulliten boards so we could hang our flyers where others might see them, the people who told their friends and neighbors about the parade and all the other people I may inadvertantly have forgotten to mention.
It takes a Town to hold a celebration like the one we had today. Thanks to all of you for making it possible for us all to remember our departed veterans today. The feeling of community spirit and support was wonderful.
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