Memorial Day Parade in Oakland

 
By Photographer Jim DeLillo
May 24, 2009
 

While Memorial Day is officially celebrated on the last Monday in May, which this year falls on May 25, the event is celebrated all weekend long. Some towns choose to have their memorial celebration and parade on one of the other weekend days.

Oakland, NJ is one of those towns. It honors its veterans and fallen heroes with a parade and memorial ceremony.

The parade is led by a Grand Marshall. This year the honor went to Edmund Bush.

The parade is well attended and marchers include the Volunteer Fire Departement that honor their own fallen in a separate ceremony.

Townspeople come out and line the street sitting in lawn chairs, or the curb and waving flags in patriotic support.

Terry and Andrew Vollmin, Hallie and Shane Lovell, The Walsh and McFaul families, and The Krauses are among the many Oakland residents that cheered on the parade.

Ginny Chukka and Eddie Eilert sat on the stoop of their front porch, which is on the parade route. The entrance of thew house occulted by a large, vintage (48 star) flag.

Cermonies included color guard, readings by American Legion Post 369 past Commander Ronald Beattie, and a presentation to Grand Marshall Edmund Bush (escorted by Sgt Mike ALexander)