Scotch Plains-Fanwood Announces Memorial Day Weekend Events

The Scotch Plains-Fanwood Memorial Day Parade Committee announced its annual concert and parade will take place on Sunday, May 24, and Monday, May 25.

The theme of this year’s Memorial Day Weekend celebration will be the 70th Anniversary of the conclusion of World War II, the township said in a release. Additionally, the parade will feature a Memorial Day Parade Float Contest. Prizes will be awarded for the top three floats.

“It is appropriate that we remember and honor the sacrifices of American soldiers in bringing an end to World War II,” Scotch Plains Mayor Kevin Glover said in the release. “Ending the spread of Nazi Germany and Imperialist Japan’s plans for world domination and preventing Hitler’s annihilation of the Jewish people still rank among our country’s greatest achievements. It would not have happened were it not for the sacrifices made by members of our armed forces whom we will honor on Memorial Day this year.”

According to Scotch Plains-Fanwood, the events of May 24 and May 25 are as follows:

Memorial Day Concert (Sunday, May 24)

The fourth annual Memorial Day Concert will take place on Sunday, May 24 at the north side of the Fanwood train station beginning at 6:30 p.m. The Westfield Community Band will play patriotic tunes, traditional marches, and other popular works. The program will include the reading of letters written by members of the U.S. military.

Memorial Day Parade and Ceremonies (Monday, May 25)

Memorial Day Commemoration ceremonies will take place at Fanwood Memorial Library at 9:00 a.m., and at the Scotch Plains Gazebo on Park Ave. at 10:00 a.m. The 2015 Memorial Day Parade will commence at 10:45 a.m. from the Municipal Building in Scotch Plains. It will proceed along Park Ave., move down Martine Ave. into the center of Fanwood and end at LaGrande Park.

“Over 50 countries took part in World War II, and the war took the lives of more people than any other conflict in human history,” Fanwood Mayor Colleen Mahr added. “More than 12 million American men and women participated and 407,000 gave their lives for the cause of freedom.”