The Medford Township Council & Medford VFW Post #7677 are pleased to announce that they will hold Medford's Annual Memorial Day Parade & Observances on Monday, May 29th, beginning at 11:00 a.m.
In a change begun in 2015, VFW Post #7677 is planning to perform memorial services at each of the three Medford Township cemeteries east of Main Street (Family Ministry at Branch and Filbert Streets, the Baptist Cemetery and the Odd Fellows Cemetery) on Saturday, May 27, 2017, in the usual sequence, commencing at noon. Accordingly, the Parade route on Monday will not include stops at the cemeteries.
On Monday, the Parade will step off at 11:00 am from Medford Memorial Middle School, and follow its traditional route up Mill Street, turning right on Trimble Street, then left onto Main Street, passing the Township's Veterans Monuments on South Main Street next to the Medford Memorial Community Center at 21 South Main Street. It will then turn right on Branch Street, make a quick right on Charles Street, a right on Bank Street and a left turn into the public parking lot which extends behind the Community Center. The honor guard, wreath layers and VIPs will move to the Veterans Monuments and assume their stations for the Ceremony. As soon as the last march unit in the parade passes the Community Center, Medford Police and the Master of Ceremonies will invite the public to the proximity of the Veterans Monuments for the official Ceremony.
This year's Grand Marshall is Lee Bealuk. A longtime resident of Medford, Lee was drafted into the US Army in 1957 and served until 1963. He was stationed in Alaska during the time period that Alaska achieved statehood. Lee is also Scoutmaster Emeritus for Medford Boy Scout Troop 20, and has personally mentored 84 scouts who have achieved the rank of Eagle Scout, an astonishing accomplishment for Medford as only 3-4% of the boys who enroll in Boy Scouts achieve this rank.
VFW Post # 7677 will host the activities in conjunction with Medford officials. In the event of inclement weather, the Ceremony will be held in the VFW Hall located on Church Road at 12:00 noon.
Parade participants include members of the VFW Post #7677, the Shawnee High School Marching Band, the Medford Police Department, Medford EMS, the Union & Taunton Fire Companies, the Civil Air Patrol-Air Victory Museum Composite Squadron. Medford Masonic Lodge #178, as well as many other public safety representatives and military re-enactment associations from neighboring communities.
The Township Council invites and encourages Veterans to march in the Parade or join them in a vehicle. Local Scout troops and civic organizations who wish to march in the parade are also encouraged to do so and should contact the Beth Portocalis at the Municipal Offices (bportocalis@medfordtownship.com) or by calling 609-654-2608 x324. Also, participation in the parade on decorated bicycles is highly encouraged. Bikers should report to the Memorial Middle School staging area by 10:45 a.m., and must wear safety helmets.
The Medford Police advise that there will be temporary road closures during and along the Parade route.
For more information concerning Medford's Memorial Day events, please call (609) 654-2608 x 324 or e-mail bportocalis@medfordtownship.com .