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 28th, beginning at 11:00 a.m.
In a change begun last year, 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 26, 2018, 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 Nile Mills. Captain Nile Mills’ Navy career spanned 30 years from 1970 to 2000. He received his first commission from Navy Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island, and retired from the Navy to Denver, Colorado, where he continued his aerospace career. He moved to Medford, New Jersey 20 days after 9/11 to work pressing defense related matters.
Mills served in various capacities from division officer to commanding officer aboard six classes of ships including: the guided missile cruiser USS Albany CG-10; guided missile destroyer USS Waddell DDG-24; destroyer tender USS Piedmont, AD-17; Aegis Combat System Test Platform USS Norton Sound AVM-1; amphibious transport dock USS Denver LPD-9; and anti-submarine warfare frigate USS Jessie L. Brown FF-1089.
Shore tours included Officer-in-Charge Aegis Navy Training Unit, AEGIS Tech Rep Office in Moorestown, New Jersey and Wayland, Massachusetts. He is a Plank Owner of the AEGIS Shipbuilding Program PMS 400. He was a watch captain in Crisis Action Cells during both Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. He then did a short assignment at the Navy Judge Advocate General (JAG) HQ in Washington, D.C. His last major shore assignment was at the Pentagon on the staff of the Chief of Naval Operation’s Staff (CNO) in Current Operations and Plans (N3/5). In addition, he completed studies in Current Operations and Plans at the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island and the Joint Operations and Plans at the Armed Forces Staff College in Norfolk, Virginia. His awards and decorations include being designated a Surface Warfare Officer. His highest ribbons and awards include a Meritorious Service Medal with gold stars and National Defense with a bronze star, and a few others.
Captain Mills also served as co-chair of the Committee that brought the World War I Memorial to Freedom Park that was dedicated in 2017, and is now leading the efforts to add World War II and Korean War Veterans Monuments in Freedom Park.
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 .