Newtown Memorial Day Parade 2025: What You Need To Know

NEWTOWN, PA — Retired U.S. Army Captain David Christian, who served during the Vietnam War as the army's youngest commissioned officer and who was wounded in action seven times while fighting the enemy, will deliver this year's Memorial Day address from the porch of the historic Newtown Borough Hall.

The highly-decorated Vietnam War hero, lifelong Bucks County resident, and tireless veterans advocate, will also be riding in this year's Memorial Day Parade as Grand Marshal, American Legion Post 440 has announced.

Newtown Memorial Day Parade

The parade is scheduled to step off at 9 a.m. on Monday, May 26, from the Newtown Commons on the Newtown-Yardley Road and will then march west through town, pausing three times before concluding with a ceremony in front of American Legion Post 440 on Linden Avenue.

The first stop will be at the Newtown Cemetery where the veterans will render honors at two gravesites - Army Pfc. Nathaniel DeTample, who died during Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Morell Smith, who was killed in action in France on Oct. 18, 1918. Legion Post 440 bears his name in honor of his sacrifice.

The parade will next pause at the World War I monument next to the Newtown Library Company at Centre Avenue and South Congress Street for a wreath-laying, prayers and salutes.

The parade will pause a third time at the Newtown Borough Hall where a brief ceremony will be held, including prayers, keynote remarks by Captain Christian and music by Council Rock musicians.

The parade will conclude at American Legion Post 44o on Linden Avenue with a short ceremony at the flagpole.

"An important thing to note for those watching the parade is that it will take a couple hours to march from the Commons to the Post with the parade pausing four times to honor the fallen," said the Legionnaires.

Parade Route

• The parade steps off at 9 a.m. from the Commons West Building on the Newtown-Yardley Road. From there it will head west to the Newtown Cemetery where a memorial service will be held at the Morell Smith gravesite.
• The parade will leave the cemetery by making a right on Elm Avenue and then a left onto Washington Avenue.
• The parade will continue west on Washington to Lincoln, make a left on Lincoln to Centre and then a right on Centre to the Newtown Library Company.
• From the Newtown Library Company, the parade will head north on Congress Street to Jefferson, left on Jefferson to State and the south on State to the Newtown Borough Hall where speeches and a memorial service will be held.
• Following the service, the parade will continue south on State Street to Centre Avenue, turn right onto Centre continuing onto the Richboro Road and then making a final right on Linden Avenue before arriving at the Amercan Legion Hall.