Township Memorial Day Parade to be Held Saturday

Lawrence Township’s 2012 Memorial Day parade will be held 9 a.m. tomorrow, Saturday, May 19.

The parade was originally scheduled to be held on May 26, but was moved up a week because Lawrence Township public schools will be now be closed May 23, 24 and 25. Thanks to the mild winter, none of the three emergency “snow days” built into the school calendar were used. Schools were already scheduled to be closed on Memorial Day itself, May 28.

“The concern was, with the kids being off those three days prior to the holiday, a lot of people are going to be away. Some people may take off that Monday and Tuesday and make it a 10-day break,” Steve Groeger, Lawrence Township's superintendent of recreation, .

“The concern then was that we weren’t going to get the same kind of participation from the kids and the [parade] volunteers.”

As it happens, Groeger has noted, Armed Forces Day will be observed across the nation tomorrow.

The parade will begin at 9 a.m., an hour earlier than the traditional 10 a.m. start time, with Memorial Day ceremonies being held immediately following the parade at Veterans Park and American Legion Post 414 on Berwyn Place.

The earlier start time is necessary because another event is scheduled to be held at the park by Post 414 later that day.

That event – a “Support the Troops” picnic and car/bike show sponsored by and – will take place 1 to 6 p.m.

With show registration and admission fees benefiting the New Jersey National Guard Family Readiness Council, the event will feature live music, food, beer, door prizes and a 50/50 drawing.

Lawrence Township Police have provided the following advisory about the parade route and resultant temporary road closures:

Parade: The Township of Lawrence will have its 2012 Memorial Day Parade on Saturday, May 19, beginning at 9 a.m. There is no scheduled rain date. The parade should run until approximately 10:30 a.m. At the conclusion of the parade, there will be a Memorial Day Ceremony at Veteran's Park on Oaklyn Terrace. The ceremony should run from approximately 10:30 a.m. until 11:15 a.m.

Assembly Area: The assembly area will be at Lawrence High School. Participants are requested to gather at the assembly are beginning at 8:30 a.m.

Parade Route: The parade will start at Lawrence High School at 9 a.m. It will proceed north on Princeton Pike, turn left onto Darrah Lane. Proceed west on Darrah Lane, turning left onto Birchwood Knoll. It will proceed south on Birchwood Knoll, turning left onto Berwyn Place, concluding at Veteran's Park. The Reviewing Stand will be located on Birchwood Knoll at Oaklyn Terrace.

Road Closing:

• Princeton Pike from Gainsboro Road to Darrah Lane
• Darrah Lane from Princeton Pike to Lawrence Road (Route 206)
• Birchwood Knoll and Berwyn Place will both be closed to traffic during the parade
• Northbound Princeton Pike will be detoured to Gainsboro Road to Lawrence Road Northbound to Franklin Corner Road
• Southbound Princeton Pike will be detoured to Franklin Corner Road Westbound to Lawrence Road Southbound.