Last year, the Moorestown 4th of July committee put together its seventh parade with a theme of “Lady Liberty.” While 2018 was envisioned to be the year of the woman, this year the president of the 4h of July committee, Dave Schill, and the rest of the members chose to make the theme “America the Beautiful.”
Back in 2010, Schill was approached to restart a parade to celebrate one of America’s most prestigious holidays. Being a veteran of the United States military, Schill jumped at the opportunity to head a committee that would celebrate the country he loves so much. Since the inaugural parade in 2011, the committee has held a parade for the 4th of July every year except 2014, due to weather.
“I served in the military all over the world, and people would love to have the type of freedom we have in this country,” said Schill. “Because of that, I think it’s important that we celebrate what we have, and shame on you if you don’t.”
The parade will assemble at 11:30 a.m. at 334 Chester Ave. and will begin marching at noon from Chester Avenue to East Main Street where the parade will take a right and proceed downtown. The parade will officially end at Church Street where participants can then begin to branch off and head to their own destinations.
The parade will feature senior members of the Polish American String Band, the popular Rancocas Creek Pipe Band, Moorestown’s own Lost in Brunswick band and various marching units that will play their own recorded music.
The committee also invites families to enter the “family unit” section with decorated bikes, scooters and wagons. The committee invites Moorestown’s civic groups to enter a float or marchers to spread awareness to the spectators about the group’s existence. Some of these civic groups include the Moorestown Garden Club, the Historical Society of Moorestown and Save The Environment of Moorestown.
“We ask that everyone who wishes to be in the parade go to our website at moorestown4thjuly.org and follow the prompts for entry,” said Schill. “We request this because we need to place everyone in the correct position in the lineup so that the bands are not playing on top of each other.
“Since putting on this parade costs upward of $10,000,” Schill continued, “the committee members will be asking for donations as we march along. If Moorestown wants this tradition of celebrating our freedom to continue, we ask for funds to keep it going.”
According to Schill, the current amount of donations is not enough to sustain Moorestown’s 4th of July parade. Those looking to continue the annual parade, can donate at the parade or checks can be made out to 4th of July Committee and mailed to 132 Harding Ave., Moorestown, NJ 08057. Participants can also donate online at moorestown4thjuly.org.
