Memorial Day Weekend 2023 In Millburn/Short Hills: Parade, Events Announced

MILLBURN, NJ — The town of Millburn has scheduled its annual Memorial Day Parade for this coming Monday, May 29 at 11 a.m.

The parade will step off at Millburn High School and continue to Taylor Park.

"Please also stick around Taylor Park after the parade for the Memorial Day ceremonies," the town said in a message earlier this year. "Please note Millburn Ave. will be closed and there will be no parking on Millburn Ave. from approximately 10:45 a.m. until after the parade has
concluded."

The grand marshal for this year is Gary Walz, a longtime resident and beloved crossing guard.

For any questions about the parade, the town says to email: administrator@millburntwp.org. And see more details here.

History of Memorial Day

The history of Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, dates back to 1868, when Gen. John A. Logan called for a day of remembrance to honor the Northern lives lost amid battle during the Civil War that had ended just a few years earlier, according to History.com. As time passed, more and more people called it Memorial Day, and it became a federal holiday in 1971.

Waterloo, New York, is considered the birthplace of Memorial Day. The town’s observance on May 5, 1866, predated Logan’s call for a day of remembrance. Local businesses closed and residents decorated the graves of fallen soldiers with flowers and flags.

Until World War I, the holiday honored only those soldiers who died while fighting for the Union in the War, as Southern states honored their war dead on a separate day. After the 116,000-plus American deaths in World War I, the tradition changed to remember all who have died while serving in the military.

Every year, a national moment of remembrance is held at 3 p.m. local time on Memorial Day. No matter where they are or what they’re doing, Americans are asked to pause for one minute in silence to remember military personnel who have given their lives in service to their country. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, the midday time was chosen because it’s a time when many Americans will be enjoying their freedoms on a national holiday.