Memorial Day Parade Celebrates Its 93rd Year
• U.S. Senator Robert Menendez Applauds Nutley Veterans
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Enlarge This Photo | Photo by NJHometown |
U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (right), keynote speaker at this year's Memorial Day services is pictured with (l-r) Commissioners Steven Rogers, Mauro Tucci and Dr. Joseph Scarpelli, Assemblyman Ralph Caputo, State Senator Ronald Rice and Nutley Mayor Alphonse Petracco.
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The front lawn at Town Hall was a perfect spot as the first of several fire engines were about to pass by in the annual Memorial Day Parade.
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Enlarge This Photo | Photo by NJHometown |
Not often does one see a parade of violins whose symphonic sounds could be heard along the entire two-mile Memorial Day march. Performers above are facing the reviewing stand at the Walker School.
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Enlarge This Photo | Photo by NJHometown |
Nutley Boy Scouts from Troop 159 were among the proud marchers in Monday's grand parade. Additional Memorial Day photos will be added to this page tomorrow (Friday).
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Enlarge This Photo | Photo by NJHometown |
Jack Kane, president of the Nutley Veterans' Council, holds commemorative plaque presented to distinguished veteran Robert G. Wilcox, 90, during Memorial Day ceremonies.
May 31, 2012 – United States Senator Robert Menendez visited Nutley on Monday to join with veterans and townspeople of all ages and to deliver a brief but poignant Memorial Day address to the more than 2,000 people gathered on and around the Frank V. Tangorra field at the Park Oval.
Surrounded by veterans and community dignitaries, Senator Menendez reminded that "in the long history of the world, only a few generations have been relegated to defending the freedom of our country: two World Wars and Korea, Desert Storm, Iraq, Afghanistan and Desert Storm."
The Senator spent most of Monday morning with the Nutley veterans who began their day at 8 a.m. by visiting 14 memorial sites throughout the community including services at and around the Town Hall area at 10 a.m.
"These are our veterans who have preserved our freedom so that all of us can enjoy the blessing of liberties here at home," Menendez said. "That's why I have led the effort in the United States Senate to provide full funding for a a veterans' health care system."
Mayor Alphonse Petracco welcomed the scores of of groups to the Park Oval as the pre-parade ceremonies began. Nutley High School senior Taylor Lockwood, who will be studying opera next year, sang a beautiful rendition of the Star Spangled Banner that won enthusiastic applause.
Taps was sounded by Richard Martinez and then it was time for Nutley veteran and Grand Marshal Robert G. Wilcox to signal the start of the parade, one of the town's best marches of the year as dozens and dozens of community organizations are joined by marchers of all ages, from the oldest senior to babies in carriages pushed by moms and dads, sisters and brothers.
All five of Nutley's town commissioners marched the entire parade route as did State Senator Ronald Rice and Assemblyman Ralph Caputo who this past year became a resident of Nutley and who has become an active participant in community activities.
The parade was led by the Nutley High School Marching Band and Color guard.
Monday's march marked the 93rd year that the town has celebrated Memorial day with a parade.
