Longtime Englishtown Memorial Day Parade Off For This Year

MANALAPAN-ENGLISHTOWN, NJ — The American Legion Molly Pitcher Post #434 last year announced the "triumphant return" of the traditional Memorial Day parade in 2022 after COVID postponements.

But residents of the area won't be seeing a parade for 2023, Post #434 Commander Jorge Irizarry said this week.

The 75-year-old parade was a tradition in Manalapan, where the post is located, and in the borough of Englishtown.

The parade returned in 2022 with the cooperation of the post, Englishtown Borough's Community Development Committee, Manalapan Township, first responders in Englishtown and Manalapan and various civic organizations, according to announcements last year.

The parade had been a joint effort between the two municipalities, but it didn't work out this year.

Mayor Susan Cohen of Manalapan explained the township's plans in a statement:

"Manalapan Township, in conversation with the Manalapan Veteran Affairs Advisory Committee, decided to hold its annual ceremony at the Veterans Walk of Honor at 11 a.m. on Memorial Day. This ceremony is more solemn and less strenuous on our aging veteran community. The earlier start time has been found to be easier on the veterans," she said.

"This is the same style of ceremony that we held during the pandemic restrictions of 2020-21. The decision to have or not to have a parade was made by others, not Manalapan Township. We were always invited to participate by Englishtown Borough, as the parade has never been organized by Manalapan Township," Cohen said.

"The American Legion has been invited to participate in this year’s Manalapan’s ceremony, as well as Englishtown residents and anyone who wants to honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice," Cohen said.

Irizarry said the post will finalize its own plans soon for a service.

"Our organization's just going to do its own little ceremony," he said. Irizarry said he is an Army veteran of the Iraq War.

The post event is expected to take place on Monday, May 29, Memorial Day. Details and time are still being worked out, Irizarry said, and he expects to post information on the post's Facebook site.

The parade normally started at the Veterans Monument at Manalapan Town Hall, then went to the Veterans Monument at Englishtown Borough Hall and circled back to Post #434 at 11 Sanford Court, according to last year's parade route.