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Medford
NJ


United States

MEDFORD — Medford’s Annual Memorial Day Parade will be held on Monday, May 30, beginning at 11 a.m. The parade will start at Memorial Middle School on Mill Street, proceed down Mill Street to Trimble Street to Main Street and then continue to the cemeteries in the village for a 21-gun salute and flag raising.

Returning to Main Street, the parade will then stop at the veterans’ monuments at 21 S. Main Street for the official ceremony. VFW Post 7677 will host the activities in conjunction with Medford officials. (In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony will be held in the VFW Hall located on Church Road).

Parade participants will include members of the VFW Post 7677, the Medford Returning Veterans Committee, the Shawnee High School Marching Band, the Medford Police Department, Medford EMS, the Union and Taunton fire companies and other public safety representatives and military reenactment associations from neighboring communities.

This year John W. “Butch” Merefield is being honored as the grand marshall. Butch served in the U.S. Army, is a Vietnam veteran and a member of Medford Post 7677. He is most proud of his volunteer work with the Union Fire Company. Starting as a Junior Fireman at 16 and joining at 18, he will have served 46 years in 2011. Holding many offices from president to chief, he is now head trustee and in charge of working with the township on the building committee. He is a life member of Union Fire Company, the New Jersey State Fireman’s Association and the New Jersey State Fire Chiefs Association. Volunteering for the National Fallen Firefighters has also brought him great pride. He first became involved when Medford lost one of their own, Woody Pinkerton, and has since been escorting families for their weekend in Emmittsburg, Md. at the National Fire Academy.

In the past few years, Butch has become involved with the VFW and Medford Township to insure new flags are put out at all township cemeteries for Memorial Day. He is also an active volunteer and participant at all military events hosted by the township, including its annual 9/11 observances and coming home celebrations for local soldiers. During the time the Vietnam Veterans Moving Wall was in Medford, he and the Union Fire Company were there every night.

Veterans are invited to march in the parade or join in a vehicle. Local Scout troops and civic organizations wanting to march in the parade should contact the Recreation Department. Decorated bicycles are welcome and should report to the Memorial Middle School staging area by 10:30 a.m. and must wear safety helmets.

For more information on Medford’s Memorial Day events, contact the Medford Recreation Department at 609-654-2512 or via email at: [email protected].

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