Communities throughout South Jersey will be marking Memorial Day this weekend with numerous events.
Communities throughout South Jersey will be marking Memorial Day this weekend with numerous events. Before you head to the beach or barbecue, stop by one of the ceremonies to remember what Memorial Day is all about.
Camden County
SATURDAY, MAY 28
Camden -- The county will hold a Memorial Day ceremony at the county Veterans Cemetery, at 10 a.m. at Kaighn Avenue Entrance (between the Airport Circle and Euclid Avenue). The names of the 89 Camden County residents killed in action will be read. The names of the 16 Camden County residents killed in action in Iraq and Afghanistan will also be read during the ceremony. Those attending the ceremony should park at Riggs School located at 1656 Kaighn Avenue in Camden City. The observance will be held rain or shine.
Cumberland County
SUNDAY, MAY 29
Upper Deerfield -- Laurel Lawn is holding its Memorial Day ceremony on May 29 at the Upper Deerfield Township cemetery, starting at 1:30 p.m.
MONDAY, MAY 30
Bridgeton -- A ceremony will be held at the Broad Street cemetery. Lunch will be held on the church lawn at noon, followed by a program inside the church at 12:45 in which Mayor Albert Kelly will speak. At 2 p.m. volunteers are welcome to decorate veterans' graves. Closing remarks and taps will be at 3 p.m.
Millville -- The Nabb-Leslie American Legion Post 82 is hosting the Millville Memorial Day Parade. The parade begins at 9 a.m. At the legion at 9 a.m., continues to the Main Street Bridge for a naval ceremony and ends at Mount Pleasant Cemetery.
Vineland -- Vineland's Memorial Day Parade starts at Myrtle Street and Landis Avenue at 9 a.m., heading down Landis Avenue toward the boulevard and then to Veteran's Park.
Gloucester County
FRIDAY, MAY 27
Monroe -- Anyone wishing to volunteer to help mark gravesites for this year's Gloucester County Memorial Day can do so at the Gloucester County Veterans Memorial Cemetery at 1 p.m. The cemetery is located at 240 South Tuckahoe Road.
SATURDAY, May 28
Woodbury Heights -- The borough will hold a Memorial Day ceremony at 11 a.m. at Veterans Park on West Jersey Avenue.
SUNDAY, MAY 29
Deptford -- The Deptford Veterans Memorial Park Commission will be hosting a ceremony at the Buddy Powell Memorial, at Oak Valley Elementary School, 525 College Boulevard at 10 a.m.. There will be a parade starting at the Oak Valley Firehouse at 10:30 a.m. The parade will end at the Deptford Veterans Memorial Park, at Oak Valley Elementary School with a ceremony at noon. There will be a barbecue immediately following the ceremony. Any children that want to decorate their bikes and participate in the parade, please meet at the Oak Valley Margie Baseball field at 10:20 a.m. There will be prizes awarded for the best decorated bikes at the end of the parade. If anyone wants to participate in the parade, please contact Sue Kryszczak 609-617-4684.
Gloucester County ceremony -- Gloucester County will hold its Annual Memorial Day Ceremony at the Gloucester County Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Monroe Township at 1 p.m. Wreaths will be placed to honor fallen comrades during the hour-long ceremony that will conclude with a rifle salute and TAPS. After the program is over, families will be given a rose to lie upon the graves of their loved one.
Monroe Twp. -- The United Veterans Council will have a Memorial Day Parade rain or shine. The parade will start at 11 a.m. and will travel northeon Main Street to Veteran's Memorial Park where there will be a dedication to our active military, veterans, and our fallen heroes and conclude with a wreath laying ceremony.
Swedesboro -- Annual Swedesboro Memorial Day Services, sponsored by the Greater Swedesboro Business Association, will be held at 10:30 a.m. rain or shine at the Woolwich Fire House, 1517 Kings Hwy.. Flag raising services at the Woolwich Fire House and Swedesboro Boro Hall War Memorial. Bring your lawn chairs
Washington Twp. -- The township's Memorial Day ceremony will be held at 11 a.m. at Franklin Atkinson Memorial Park.
Woodbury -- Annual candlelight vigil at the Woodbury American Legion Post 133, 1018 Washington Ave., starting at 7 p.m. The event is being held in partnership with the County Veterans Administration, the NJ POW/MIA Awareness Committee, the Woodbury American Legion Post 133, the Bonsal Blues and Troop 7 and Pack 7 Boy Scouts to honor N.J. POW/MIA's and Woodbury's fallen soldiers from the War of 1812 to Vietnam.
MONDAY, MAY 30
Glassboro -- The annual "Best of Gloucester County" Memorial Day Parade will begin at 10 a.m. at the intersection of Lehigh Road and University Boulevard, proceeding onto High Street toward Borough Hall. There will be more than 10 bands and a bike brigade for kids ages 5 - 12. The Brigade will gather at the corners of Villanova and Harvard at 9:30 a.m. No pre-registration is required. A ceremony will follow the parade at the Veteran's Memorial Monument, next to the fire house, at noon. For more information call 856-881-9230, ext. 88322.
Pitman -- The service will begin in the Pitman Grove Auditorium at 10:45am. Immediately following the conclusion of the service in the Grove Auditorium, services will continue at the Edward J. Campbell Jr. War Memorial Mall in Ballard Park.
Woodbury -- Numerous events will be held throughout the city with the help of various civic and community groups beginning at 8 a.m. with an observance at the World War II Memorial Park at Hendrickson Park. Then at 8:30 a.m. at Rotary Memorial Park, 9:30 a.m. at the Civil War monument on Broad and Delaware streets, 10 a.m. at the "Victor" doughboy statue in front of the high school, 10:30 a.m. at the former cemetery on Broad Street and Red Bank Avenue, 11 a.m. at the Sailor's Monument near the police department, and 11:30 at the Soldier of Peace memorial on Hunter and Euclid. Refreshments will be served following the last observance at 11:45 a.m.
Salem County
MONDAY, MAY 30
Elsinboro -- At 10 a.m., veterans will gather at the PSEG Nuclear Salem River Boat Ramp on Sinnickson Landing Road in Elsinboro Township for a salute to those who lost their lives will defending the U.S. at sea. The brief event will include the launching of floral tributes in the Salem River and a gun salute. There will also be the playing of "Taps."
Salem City -- At 10:45 a.m. a service is planned at the Salem Veterans Memorial Park on West Broadway. VFW Post 253 Commander Michael Shimp will lead the ceremony. Following prayers and the recognition of those who placed wreaths at the monument, Patrick Hassler will present the guest speech. There will be the playing of "Taps" and the National Anthem. A gun salute will also he staged to honor the war dead.
Pilesgrove -- The main service of the day will be held beginning at noon at the Salem County Veterans Cemetery, Route 45, Pilesgrove Township. VFW Post 253 Commander Michael Shimp will lead this ceremony at the cemetery where more than 2,000 Salem County veterans and their spouses are buried. The colors will presented by members of Salem County VFW and American Legion posts. There will also be a rifle salute to fallen veterans and the playing of "Taps."