One of Voorhees’ greatest traditions continues with the Annual Kirkwood Memorial Day Parade.
This year marks the 68th year for the event. Since the year 2000, Terri and Vaughn Vandegrift and their extended family have organized the parade to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.
The parade starts at 11 a.m. at the Carriage House Restaurant and ends at the War Memorial on Burnt Mill Road adjacent to the Kirkwood Fire Station. There will be a memorial ceremony at 11:30 a.m. with refreshments following.
The First Memorial Day dates back to the Civil War era when a group of Southern women decorated the graves of soldiers who died in battle from both the Confederate and Union Armies. The first national memorial observance was in May of 1868. In 1873, New York was the first state to legalize the holiday and by 1890, all the Northern states celebrated Memorial Day on May 30. In 1971, the observance date was changed to the last Monday in May.
Memorial Day has come to be known as the holiday that opens the summer season. It is celebrated with backyard barbecues, picnics and parades. But it should really be a day of remembrance. It should be a day to honor those Americans who gave their lives for our country.
The bravery and tragedy of war transcend time. Whether it is the Civil War or the war in Iraq, brave men and women risk their lives so that our families can sleep peacefully at night. Memorial Day is a day to pause and remember the fallen heroes and the families they leave behind.
On this Memorial Day, remember those heroes. Honor them by enjoying the barbeques and picnics or by coming to the parade. Honor them by embracing your family. Honor them by cherishing your freedom. They would have wanted it that way.
** The Farmer’s Market at the Voorhees Town Center is open from 8 a.m. until noon every Saturday rain or shine through Oct. 5. Vendors include Duffield’s, Fruitwood, Bellview Winery and more, supplying “Jersey Fresh” and locally grown produce, meats, cheeses, wines and more.
** Voorhees Township is offering discounted tickets to Morey’s Piers in Wildwood. Tickets are available in the Municipal Clerk’s Office at Voorhees Town Hall. Prices vary according to the type of ticket and several options are available to residents and non-residents. Voorhees also offers discounted tickets to Clementon Lake Park via our online services. For more information about tickets or to order online, visit www.voorheesnj.com.
