Submitted by Claudia Shehady
Mountainside will sponsor a Memorial Day Ceremony on Monday, May 28, 2018, followed by a parade honoring those who have died in our nation’s service. The ceremony will take place at 11:30 a.m. at the Veterans flagpole monument on Constitution Plaza (in front of the Library), Mountainside, New Jersey. Upon conclusion of the ceremony, Veterans, Scouts, Rotary Club, Rescue Squad, Fire Department, Police and community groups will parade toward Deerfield School. The parade will proceed from Constitution Plaza up to Bridle Path to Wood Valley Road to Central Ave. ending in Deerfield School parking lot. It is expected to end at 12:30 p.m.
The Grand Marshall of Mountainside’s parade will be Don Jeka. Don joined the Marine Corps in 1946, his senior year in high school. After boot camp at Parris Island, he was shipped to China. After his enlistment expired, he returned to the States, finished high school and spent his freshman year at University of Miami, Florida. In 1950, he was called back to active duty with the Marines at the outset of the Korean War. He attended Ordnance school at the Marine base in Quantico, Virginia and joined the staff as an instructor in ammunition and demolition explosives. He received a WWII Victory Medal, a National Service Medal, and a China Service Medal. He qualified as a sharpshooter with the M1 rifle during his service.
He returned to the University and earned a bachelor’s degree, majoring in journalism. After graduation, he joined Union Carbide Corporation for a decade, then joined Burson Marsteller, a leading public relations firm, retiring after 25 years as vice president, International.
Don and his late wife Yvonne moved to Mountainside in 1963 and brought up two boys, Don Junior and Paul. He served on the School Board and the Planning Board in the borough. His wife was prominent in real estate and was a past president of the PTA. His current activities include painting, writing, and occasional sailing, previously holding a U.S. Coast Guard Captain’s License.
The Mountainside Memorial Day Parade Committee is comprised of individuals representing the VFW, Mayor and Borough Council, Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, Rotary Club, Local Businesses, Fire Department, Rescue Squad and others. These groups will come together once again to bring a fitting Memorial Day event to the town of Mountainside as an honor to our own brave citizens who have fought and sacrificed in wars so that we can enjoy the many freedoms that Mountainsiders enjoy. The Committee hopes that citizens come out in force to show their appreciation for our veterans as we memorialize our heroes in this way.
For further information about the parade, please contact Deanna Andre at 908-244-4111.
