Clark Memorial Day Parade
Ralph Bernardo, Co-Chair – 2021 Parade Committee
On Monday, May 31st, 2021, the Township of Clark will host its Annual Memorial Day Parade. At the end of the parade route at Arthur L. Johnson High School, a short service will be held to honor “Clark’s Fallen Heroes.”
Memorial Day commemorates the men and women who died while servicing their country, particularly those who died in battle or as a result of wounds sustained in battle. In other words, the purpose of Memorial Day is to memorialize the veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. We spend time remembering those who lost their lives and could not come home, reflecting on their service and why we have the luxury and freedom that we enjoy today. Remember to fly the American flag on this day.
As the new Co-Chair to the parade committee, I urge you to attend the parade route or even consider marching. With so much uncertainty and unrest on foreign ground today, with a nation so divided politically, we need to come together as a country and a township and honor our lost, support our troops, especially that so many young Clark residents are in the military.
There is much prior precedent in Clark’s history to honor its war dead with a parade. During World War II the residents celebrated “I Am American Day” originating in 1942 and continuing through the 1950’s.
At the conclusion of those parades, all the participants and observers circled the large wooden board listing the names of those Clark residents who went off to war, called the “Honor Roll”. In 1947 the “Honor Roll” was replaced with our present war memorial monument located in front of Clark’s high school, Arthur L. Johnson. The Parade Committee will continue this tradition of circling around the war memorial monuments at the conclusion of this year’s parade.
We invite your group to march in the parade. To guarantee a place in the parade, please contact Parade Chairman Ralph Bernardo at 732-428-8400 or rbernardo@ourclark.com, if you are interested in joining the parade or have any questions, as soon as possible.
Please be aware that prior to the parade, all participating will be fortified by mail of their place in line, with instructions on when and where to report.
With our troops presently protecting liberty on foreign soil, we look forward to this continuation of Clark’s patriotic Memorial Day Parade and hope that you will join us.
