| Author |
Message |
    
Nohero
Supporter
Username: Nohero
Post Number: 4469
Registered: 10-1999
| | Posted on Sunday, May 8, 2005 - 8:05 pm: |     |
The Hilton Neighborhood Association (HNA) is a long-standing, vibrant group, which has improved our community through civic involvement, holding candidate forums, and especially by inspiring similar community activities throughout our two towns. The good folks of the HNA helped to spearhead the improvements we've all enjoyed in the Springfield Avenue area.
Similarly, the Springfield Avenue Partnership (SAP) has done a lot to improve their part of town. They are residents and business people (you know, folks who put their money into that part of town, and stuff like that?). That helps all of us, even if you never manage to make it over there.
In light of all of that, it's a shame that some people (such as the poster just above) still feel compelled to post dismissive comments about them. |
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 5553
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, May 8, 2005 - 8:11 pm: | |
Reflective:
Thank you for your concern. Contact calls you suggest have already been made. We are awaiting replies. Thus the on-line reminder to groups which have participated in the recent past and not yet acknowledged their participation for this year.
All of the neighborhood associations in town are welcome to march (not just HNA, which was the only one to participate last year), all of the organized religious groups may march in the parade (not just St George's which did such a lovely job last year), all of the youth sports teams may participate (though the Lacrosse team is the only to have participated - for several years now). If you know of any other such groups which would like to participate, by all means pass the information along to them but don't accuse the VFW of using the parade to advance a political agenda; that simply is not the case and I suspect you know it.
While we are on the subject of participation, I seem to recall your once posting that you were a vet. Can we rely on your participation with the veterans this year? Membership in the local VFW post is not a prerequisite.
|
wendy
Supporter
Username: Wendy
Post Number: 889
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, May 8, 2005 - 9:47 pm: | |
"In light of all of that, it's a shame that some people (such as the poster just above) still feel compelled to post dismissive comments about them."
Between this comment and Joan's below, I don't which one of you I should nominate for Saint of the Most Patient. Me, I would have ignored or freaked. Take it to Soapbox Reflective or at least start acting in accordance with your screen name. |
Nohero
Supporter
Username: Nohero
Post Number: 4473
Registered: 10-1999
| | Posted on Monday, May 9, 2005 - 10:19 pm: | |
Joan has a lock on the title of Patient Saint of MOL. |
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 5556
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 10, 2005 - 4:30 pm: | |
Thanks to Pack 3 BSA for confirming they will march in the parade. |
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 5559
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 10, 2005 - 6:18 pm: | |
Thanks to First Night of Maplewood for confirming that they will march in the parade. |
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 5568
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, May 12, 2005 - 4:21 pm: | |
Bernie and I will be at Mayfest (weather permitting) to spread the word about the parade. If you are at Mayfest, please stop by and say hello. We will also be able to answer any questions you may have regarding the parade at that time. |
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 5572
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, May 12, 2005 - 8:20 pm: | |
Pack 19 has just confirmed they will be marching in the Memorial Day Parade. If your scout troop or pack has not yet gotten back to me on whether you will be marching, please post here or send me a PL. |
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 5577
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, May 13, 2005 - 6:43 pm: | |
Troop 5 BSA has just confirmed that they will be marching in the Memorial Day Parade. |
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 5589
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, May 15, 2005 - 7:36 am: | |
Two more announcements regarding the parade:
1. Only when the weather is really bad (lightning strikes setting fire to local homes; rain so thick you need a machete to part it.), is the parade canceled by order of the police and/or fire department. In the event that the parade needs to be canceled for the above reason, the memorial service will be held in Town Hall at 9:30 AM and everyone is urged to attend.
2. Uniform for the Veteran's Honor Guard is blues and greys: dark blue blazer, grey slacks, white shirt, striped tie for men; dark blue blazer or suit jacket, grey skirt or slacks, white blouse or shirt for women. VFW members are asked to wear their VFW hat. Others may wear their uniform hat but head cover is not required.
There is no uniform dress for other veterans who wish to participate in the parade.
Anyone interested in marching in the honor guard should get me their name as soon as possible so we wil know you are coming. Other veterans need not provide advance notice of their participation, unless they would require a ride in the parade.
Notification information, assembly date, place and time are posted above. |
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 5593
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, May 15, 2005 - 4:41 pm: | |
CCR and the Hilton Neighborhood Association have been added to the order of march. |
Barbara
Citizen
Username: Blh
Post Number: 479
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, May 15, 2005 - 6:20 pm: | |
Joan
I'm still laughing about our encounter today. For others, I've known Joan for years to stop and talk with,and until today, didn't know Joan was Joan Crystal -- just never knew her last name!
Which reminds me that every post I make should be civil and about an issue, not a person -- never know who else I don't know that I know!
Thanks Joan!
Barbara |
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 5596
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, May 15, 2005 - 6:28 pm: | |
Barbara:
It was great seeing you again today. Looking forward to seeing you on Memorial Day if not sooner. |
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 5598
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, May 16, 2005 - 4:24 pm: | |
We are really excited to have the CHS TV van in the parade this year. I wonder if we can get them to televise part of the proceeding. |
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 5609
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, May 19, 2005 - 4:34 pm: | |
The Girl's Softball League of Maplewood has been added to the Order of March for this year's Memorial Day Parade.
If you or your off-spring are active in a youth sports team which would like to march in the Memorial Day Parade this year, please get back to me with the details. |
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 5618
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, May 20, 2005 - 4:22 pm: | |
Thank you to the News Record, the Springfield Avenue Partnership and the merchants along Maplewood Avenue and Baker Street who have helped to spread the word about the Maplewood Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony. |
Pizzaz
Citizen
Username: Pizzaz
Post Number: 1802
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, May 21, 2005 - 8:06 pm: | |
Why is the same route followed every year? Perhaps the march can start from Springfield Avenue one year?
No offense, I think the parade is great. |
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 5624
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, May 21, 2005 - 8:32 pm: | |
No offense taken. There are several advantages to current parade route:
1. The two parking lots where the parade assembles are large, open areas ideally suited for assembling young marchers safely. Drop off along West Parker Avenue is easy and safe since most of the traffic at that hour on a holiday morning is parade specific. Springfield Avenue doesn't offer these advantages.
2. With the exception of the hill from the student parking lot to Maplewood Avenue and West Parker Avenue, the parade route is very flat and well shaded. Since older marchers are able to join the parade at the top of this hill, this enables some of our older marchers (especially the WWII and Korean Conflict Vets) to march in the parade with minimal physical challenge. Springfield Avenue is hillier and far less shaded. If we were to move the parade there, some of our veterans who participate each year would be unable to do so.
3. The town's veteran's memorial is located adjacent to the flag pole in front of town hall. Both the memorial and the flag pole figure in the Memorial Day ceremony which follows the parade. There is no comparable veteran's memorial on or adjacent to Springfield Avenue.
4. The open space in front of Town Hall provides sufficient space for the several thousand marchers and viewers who attend the ceremony following the parade every year. Comparable open space, with the natural stage/reviewing station provided by the Town Hall steps does not exist on Springfield Avenue, nor is there provision for the needed sound system on SA.
5. Kiwanis runs a major activity immediately following the memorial day ceremony along the river directly opposite the ceremony site. The duck races would not be possible if the route of the parade were to be moved.
These are just a few of the considerations which come to mind. I am sure there are many others which just don't come to mind at the moment.
Hope this helps. |
Pizzaz
Citizen
Username: Pizzaz
Post Number: 1803
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, May 21, 2005 - 8:37 pm: | |
Nice response. From your previous post, that took about 20 minutes. 
|
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 5653
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 25, 2005 - 5:21 pm: | |
Two Questions Received Today:
Should scout groups marching in the parade bring candy to throw to the crowd?
I'm not sure anyone would stop them but I wouldn't encourage it since the primary purposeof the Memorial Day parade and ceremony is to honor those soldiers who died for our counrty.
May individuals march in the parade and if not which groups may march?
The parade is not set up for individuals to march. The kinds of groups which are included are municipal government officials and public service employees; veterans and active members of the armed forces (whether or not they served overseas in time or war or recognized conflict); members of youth groups such as scouts, marching band members, and youth volunteers with service organizations; and adult members of service organizations.
Political groups as a rule are not invited to march since this would possibly detract from the overall purpose of the parade which is to honor those who fought for our country in battle and those who are still fighting today in places such as Iraq and Afghanistan. |
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 5679
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, May 29, 2005 - 10:48 am: | |
Correction: Elsewhere on this board, in a thread entitled Duck Races, Jamie states that the duck races will be held tommorrow immediately after the parade. That is not precisely correct. Between the parade and the duck races, the town of Maplewood under the leadership of Maplewood Memorial Post 10120 will be holding a memorial service in front of town hall. The purpose of this service is to remember those members of the armed forces who died in battle defending our country and to honor the veterans of the military and those in active military service for the sacriffices they have made for their country. I hope everyone will turn out for this ceremony, whether or not they plan to attend the parade and/or duck races. |
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 5694
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, May 30, 2005 - 1:16 pm: | |
I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who made today's Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony such a huge success, especially for the Veterans who attended in record numbers and were so thankful to have all of us join them in remembering those now former soldiers who are among the departed and honoring the members of the military who are presently serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. A full list of credits would use up all of the remaining space on Jamie's and Dave's server but a partial list may be found in a new thread in Virtual Cafe. Please take a moment to read it and thank each of these persons next time you see them. |
nan
Citizen
Username: Nan
Post Number: 2060
Registered: 2-2001
| | Posted on Monday, May 30, 2005 - 2:18 pm: | |
Joan,
Here's opportunity to thank you for all your hard work. The parade this year was fantastic! Looked like a good crowd turn out too.
Thanks! |
letters016
Citizen
Username: Letters016
Post Number: 88
Registered: 5-2005
| | Posted on Monday, May 30, 2005 - 3:01 pm: | |
Joan,
A terrific and moving day today. Thank you for doing so much to help make today memorable. I gets better and better each year. |
Nohero
Supporter
Username: Nohero
Post Number: 4498
Registered: 10-1999
| | Posted on Monday, May 30, 2005 - 7:13 pm: | |
More thanks, Joan, for all of your work to organize the parade and the ceremony today.
This was one of those days, that we tell people about when they ask us what we love about our town. |
Lydia
Supporter
Username: Lydial
Post Number: 1282
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, May 30, 2005 - 7:36 pm: | |
Thank you Joan - you and Bernie are aces (as always) |
jamie
Moderator
Username: Jamie
Post Number: 921
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Monday, May 30, 2005 - 7:41 pm: | |
Thanks!
|
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 5705
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 31, 2005 - 4:21 pm: | |
The scouts in Jamie's photograph (above) are from Troop 5 in Maplewood. As always, they made a wonderful contribution to the parade in honor of our veterans. A special thanks to Roger and the scouts for bringing their own flag this year. |
Closed: New threads not accepted on this page