Submitted by: Don Sweeney member of the Memorial Day Parade committee.
The Memorial Day Parade Committee encourages parade crowds to follow the Parade to the Ceremony. The Township of Cranford’s respect to the fallen heroes of American war heroes is displayed each year through the annual Memorial Day parade and the emotional ceremony that directly follows it at Memorial Park on the corner of Springfield and Central Avenues. For those who have made the ceremony at Memorial Park part of their Memorial Day morning, year after year, the reason to be there is evident. For those who have never attended, allow us to share why we feel it is time that you may consider giving an hour to the memories of these fine men and woman that have given the ultimate sacrifice so that we, as American citizens, can live the privileged life that we enjoy every day. Where there are so many reasons why we love living in Cranford, the one that stands out to me is that it is a small American town that has such deep roots into American history. There is no time throughout the year that allows us to display those attributes more than on Memorial Day. The ceremony starts with a song from the Cranford High School band and another by the Madrigals ensemble. Next a middle school student that has been selected through a contest, recites from memory Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address followed by the reading of the 86 names of Cranford’s own war heroes that have given their lives so that we can enjoy ours. This was done, in some years, by Cranford American Veterans who have known the faces of some these young men earlier in their lives. A series of wreaths are now laid at the war memorials in the park and a solemn 21 gun salute is presented as a wreath is floated in the Rahway River for those heroes lost at sea. This portion of the ceremony ends with an emotional playing of taps. At this point the Grand Marshal of the parade, usually a Cranford resident selected for their service to our country, speaks about what Memorial Day means to them. These speakers have been remembered by me for years to follow. A short prayer from a Cranford clergy and a performance of God Bless America puts a wrap to an amazing morning in Cranford NJ. It all takes less than an hour, an hour that our family has never missed since we moved to Cranford 25 years ago. If you have lived in Cranford and never witnessed this, what makes Cranford different from most every community, then you should consider picking up your chair from along the parade route and follow the parade. You’ll experience the trail through our town’s beautiful streets to the patriotically decorated Memorial Park. There you will be part of the Americana that makes Cranford a special place to live. Put your chair down on the beautiful lawn and enjoy Cranford. You’ll be glad you did. I’ll see you there.
