Joe McCourt, who as a lieutenant served in the U.S. Army as a platoon leader in the Vietnam War, will be the Grand Marshal of this year’s Fanwood Scotch Plains Memorial Day parade. McCourt, 70, of Scotch Plains, is active in both the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars groups at the local level, has been an integral part of the Borough’s and Township’s Memorial Day and Veterans’ Day observances for many years and was also a member of a five person committee that oversaw fundraising and construction of the Vietnam War memorial in Scotch Plains.
“With Joe’s support, we’ve been able to add the concert and it really pays tribute in the right way to acknowledge those who made the ultimate sacrifice -with touching music and letters from home,” Fanwood Mayor Colleen Mahr said. “Joe has always made sure that the integrity of the parade remains and that the focus is on our nation’s war casualties and it is a day to remember their loss.”
The parade, to be held on Monday, May 30, caps a weekend observance that includes a concert and services remembering those who gave their lives for the nation. Events are as follows:
SUNDAY, MAY 29
The fifth annual
MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT
featuring patriotic music performed by the
Westfield Community Band at the Alan
Augustine Village Green on Park Avenue in
Scotch Plains (bring a chair). The concert will be
cancelled in case of inclement weather; email
alerts will be sent.
MONDAY, MAY 30
MEMORIAL SERVICE
9 a.m. –
FANWOOD MEMORIAL LIBRARY
14 Tillotson Rd.
MEMORIAL SERVICE
10 a.m.
SCOTCH PLAINS GAZEBO PARADE
10:45 a.m.
Scotch Plains Municipal Building
Park Ave. and proceeds down Martine Ave.
in Fanwood, ending at LaGrande Park
