Memorial Day Parade
The City of Summit annual Memorial Day parade and ceremony will take place on Monday, May 30 at 10a.m. The parade will begin at 25 Deforest Avenue and proceed to the Village Green, honoring the men and women who have lost their lives in military service to our country.
Sponsored by the Summit Memorial Day Committee and the Summit Fourth of July and Celebration Committee, the parade will be led by members of the Summit American Legion Post #322. Summit civic and school groups are encouraged to participate and march along with veterans. The Summit High School marching band, Summit Police Department, Summit Fire Department, Summit Volunteer First Aid Squad, and scout troops will also march in the parade. All participating organizations should line up in the parking lot behind 25 Deforest Avenue at 9:30 a.m.
Spectators are encouraged to gather on Deforest Avenue, Beechwood Road, Union Place, and along Maple Street to the Village Green. Flags will be distributed to the crowd by veterans along the parade route, donated by local business Annin & Co. Veterans who are unable to march may request a ride in the parade; please meet members of the American Legion at the start of the parade route at 25 Deforest Avenue to request assistance.
The ceremony on the Village Green will feature music from the Summit High School marching band, a rifle salute and wreath-laying, and a special performance of Taps. A Summit Veteran Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented by Mayor Nora Radest, followed by readings from local students. Veterans who attend the ceremony will receive a 2022 commemorative coin in recognition of, and appreciation for, their service. Free hot dogs and cold drinks will be served on the Village Green courtesy of the Summit Elks Lodge.
The ceremony will also include a groundbreaking for a new monument honoring those who served and died in World War 2, Korea, and Vietnam, and another to recognize those who served during the Global War on Terror.
May 30, 2022, marks the five-year anniversary of the death of Summit Police Department Detective Matthew Tarentino. SPD members will wear a commemorative arm band for the parade, to honor Detective Tarentino’s life and career with the Summit Police Department.
To register your organization to march in the parade, contact David Guida at dguidajr@cityofsummit.org. More information is available at summitcommunityprograms.com.
