DUNELLEN RETURNS TO IN-PERSON MEMORIAL DAY PARADE AND CEREMONY

Dunellen, NJ – The Borough of Dunellen is excited to announce the return to an in-person Memorial Day event on Monday, May 31. Last year, due to COVID-19 restrictions, the Dunellen community marked the day with a video honoring those who served to protect our country and made the ultimate sacrifice. Dunellen Mayor Jason Cilento stated, “We decided to move forward this year with an in-person event – we remain committed to holding up the memories of our fallen heroes.” The Dunellen Recreation Department, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 5479 and American Legion Post 119 are organizing the event.

The parade will begin at 10:00 AM and travel from the American Legion on New Market Road through the streets of Dunellen and end at Washington Memorial Park on North Washington Avenue with a ceremony around 10:45 AM. The parade will feature floats, classic cars, fairytale princesses, Recreation Department and Dunellen High School groups, Boy and Girl Scouts, Dunellen Police Department, Rescue Squad, Fire Department and more. The parade route runs south on New Market Road, west on Grove Street, north on Madison Avenue, east on North Avenue/Route 28, north on Jackson Avenue, west on Second Street, and south on North Washington Avenue.

During the ceremony, attendees will hear from Mayor Jason Cilento of Dunellen, Deputy Mayor Jim Van Arsdale of Green Brook, Commander Bill Uhler of American Legion Post 119, Commander Jason Cunas of the VFW Post 5479, Father Alphonsus Kariuki of St. John the Evangelist Church, President Sue Horgos of VFW, Krissy Uhler and Sammy Uhler of the American Legion, Pastor Roy Carryl of Living Hope Outreach Center, Vice Commander Shalonda Tanner of American Legion Post 119, and Chaplains Gary Stoop and Tad Fryzel of VFW and American Legion, respectively. The program will include music by the Imperial Brass Band, Marine Corps League, Mike Del Vecchio, bugler, and Larry Booker, bagpipe player from the Franklin Police Department and Somerset Co. Bags & Drums, with assistance from Boy Scout Troop 119.

The community will also recognize a National Moment of Remembrance as Dunellen’s churches toll their bells at 3:00 PM on May 31. “We are so honored to join bells from other houses of worship in Dunellen and with our neighbors and friends with whom we enjoy the spirit of community and fellowship in this town that we call home,” shared Reverend Dámaris E. Ortega, Pastor of St. Luke Lutheran Church in Dunellen. In an act of unity, please take this one-minute pause to remember those who have died in military service.

The Dunellen Recreation Department, in partnership with the VFW and American Legion, is launching a Hometown Heroes Banner Program for downtown Dunellen as a tribute to honor past and present service members. Parks and Recreation Director Alex Miller stated, “Six years ago, I got involved with the Dunellen American Legion Post & VFW Post with their annual Memorial Day parade. My role was to help get more participants in the parade and promote the parade.” Miller added, “Each year I was looking to add to the parade, and a few years back riding through neighboring towns, I saw Hometown Heroes banners up and I loved it! I thought it was a great honor for our local heroes, and it was very patriotic. I then spoke to leaders at the American Legion Post & VFW Post and they too loved the idea. This has been a team effort.  Julie Grof has been a huge help on this program, also with support from Recreation Commission Member Kelly Seader and Council Member Cole Sigmon.” Banners will be hung throughout downtown Dunellen during November 2021 and then annually during the month of May starting May 2022. To honor a loved one, sponsor a banner for $155 by going to https://tinyurl.com/DunellenHometownHeroes or contact Alex Miller at (732) 968-3033, x8 or email amiller@dunellenborough.com.

To also add to the patriotic pride in Dunellen, the Dunellen Art & Culture Commission and the Dunellen Recreation Commission have invited residents and businesses to participate in their annual “Patriotic House & Business Decoration Contest!” Participants were asked to decorate the side of their houses or storefronts that is most visible from the street with the winner being announced on May 30.