This year’s grand Marshall of the highly popular Memorial Day Parade in Freehold is John Heege, a 95 year old highly decorated veteran of World War II where he served with the US Navy. Veteran Heege was born in Suffern, New York in 1927, grew up in Jamesburg and joined the Navy at age 17 in 1944. He and his family live on Lenoir Avenue in Freehold for 37 years, and he is an active member of the American Legion and VFW posts.
All five of this borough’s veterans organizations participate in the annual extravaganza, reputed to be the largest and oldest, celebration, with this year the 148th event. IT is Monmouth County’s largest parade and the state’s longest running parade.
The five participating veterans organizations are Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #4374, Disabled American Veterans Chapter #74, Marine Corps League Cpl. Philip A. Reynolds Detachment #203, American Legion Post #54, and Jewish War Veterans Post #359.
On a rotating basis, each year one of these organizations take the lead for the event, determining the theme of the parade and receives the honor of selecting the Grand Marshal.
This year’s lead organization is the VFW POST #4374 and the theme as decided by the VFW, is “In honor of The Military Veterans of the United States of America”.
Memorial Day in Freehold begins with the traditional “Elks Point Service of Reflection” at Elks Point (where Routes 79 and 537) converge at 8:30 a.m. This Service is in memory of all Freehold and other American servicemen and servicewomen who lost their lives defending their nation. Each veteran and those who made the ultimate sacrifice are represented by the crosses and stars of David at Elk’s Point.
As old as the Kentucky Derby and started when there were only 37 states in the Union, this year’s event will begin 9:45 a.m. at Brinckerhoff Avenue and Main Street. A flag-draped casket accompanied by active military from various branches of service is pulled down the parade route to remind all of the purpose of the parade. At 10:00 am, veteran groups will begin to march down Main Street followed by the rest of the parade.
In announcing all the plans for the event, Councilman George Schnurr said “on behalf of Mayor Kevin Kane and my colleagues on the Freehold Borough Council and the Memorial Day Parade Committee, we would like to invite you to join us at the Service of Reflection and the Parade on Memorial Day. “
