By Meghan Loder
Memorial Day weekend kicks off the unofficial start of summer at the Jersey Shore, with many clamoring to get to the beach and soak up the sun after being inside during the freezing winter. What is often forgotten is that Memorial Day is a day to commemorate all of the men and women, who have died in military service for the United States.
A variety of Memorial Day services and parades are being held throughout the Two River area.
Atlantic Highlands: The annual Memorial Day parade, being led by the American Legion Post 141, will begin at 11 a.m. Monday at the Municipal Harbor and end at Veterans Park. A ceremony will take place following the parade in front of Borough Hall.
Colts Neck: The Memorial Day commemoration will start at 10 a.m. Monday with a bicycle contest at the Colts Neck First Aid Building, followed by a parade at 10:30 a.m. that will start at Heyers Mills Road and end at Memorial Park. A brief ceremony at the park’s gravesites will follow.
Fair Haven: The borough is holding a parade at 9 a.m. Monday. The route starts at Knollwood Public School and will finish at Memorial Park with a brief service to follow.
Highlands: The American Legion is sponsoring a parade at 1 p.m. Saturday at Huddy Park, corner of Waterwitch Avenue and Shore Drive. Everyone is welcome to participate.
Holmdel: The township Department of Parks and Recreation is sponsoring a Memorial Day ceremony at 10:30 a.m. Monday at Town Hall-Memorial Circle, located at 4 Crawfords Corner Road.
Also in Holmdel, the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial at Exit 116 of the Garden State Parkway will be having a Memorial Day ceremony from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday. The ceremony will feature former Gov. Christine Todd Whitman as the guest speaker, a presentation of two scholarships to high school seniors and the induction of four Vietnam veterans into the memorial’s “In Memory” Program. The Vietnam Era Museum and Educational Center will be open to the public free of charge on Memorial Day from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
Little Silver: The parade will begin at 8:30 a.m. Monday on Willow Drive and will be followed by a 9 a.m. ceremony in Memorial Park.
Middletown: The annual Memorial Day parade will begin at 10 a.m. Monday at the corner of Leonard Avenue and Leonardville Road.
Monmouth Beach: The borough will be holding an observance at 10 a.m. Monday, featuring guest speaker Lt. Col. Charles Long, commanding officer, 6th Motor Transport Battalion, Red Bank. At the end of the service the Monmouth Beach Veterans Association will unveil an updated list of veterans from Monmouth Beach on the wall of honor.
Oceanport: The annual Memorial Day parade will start at 9:30 a.m. Monday at Blackberry Bay Park and end at Borough Hall with brief services to follow. Everyone is invited to attend.
Red Bank: The borough’s Department of Parks and Recreation is sponsoring a Memorial Day Service at 11 a.m. Monday at the Veterans’ Monument at 51 Monmouth St.
Rumson: The parade route will start at Forrestdale School at 10 a.m. Monday and end at Victory Park following a wreath sponsoring ceremony.
Sea Bright: The Memorial Day Service will take place at 11 a.m. Monday at the Sea Bright Police Station. The service will feature remarks from Mayor Long, members of the borough council and Paul Frisco, a World War II U.S. Navy veteran. All are welcome to attend.
Shrewsbury: The Memorial Day Service will take place at 10 a.m. Monday at Patriot Isle at the corner of Sycamore Avenue and Broad Street. There will be a community ceremony where the Shrewsbury Borough School Band will play followed by the winners of the student essay/poem contest reading their entries about “What Memorial Day Means to Me.”
