This Year's Memorial Day Parade Slated for Pine Lake Park

Manchester's Memorial Day parade will be held at the Grand Army Memorial in Pine Lake Park this year after township officials decided to consolidate two commemorations down to one.

"As promised last year, we will endeavor to alternate the location of the celebration of Memorial Day," Mayor Michael Fressola said in a statement. 

The parade will assemble at 9:15 a.m. at Commonwealth and Southampton Avenues on Monday, May 28. Participants will then travel to Wellington and Oakdale Streets for 10 a.m. services, Fressola said. 

Last year, rather than hold two commemorations — one each for the town's east and west side — Fressola said that his Veterans Advisory Committee wanted a single parade for the entire township. In 2011, . 

"We urge all of you to attend this service to honor all military men and women who have served our country, and to show them our appreciation and support," the mayor said.

Guest speakers will address those in attendance and residents are welcome to place wreaths or flowers in memory of veterans, Fressola said.

Some residents last year complained about the township's desire to eliminate one of the Memorial Day celebrations. Fressola said that he deferred the decision to his Veterans Advisory Committee.

"Their desire was to have one annual parade celebrating Memorial Day," . "The decision was based on the fact that this is one town and we should have one celebration for Memorial Day. They said this is one town, not two towns, and when you're doing things on two sides of town, it's not one."

Fressola said that money was not the main concern driving the committee's decision, but that the decrease in spending did play a part.

"Yes, there was cost savings," he said. "Instead of hiring extra police and paying public works employees for six hours or whatever it was, the time was half because we only had one function."

The mayor said saving money "was an ancillary thing."

"That was not what the consideration was," Fressola said. His advisory committee was "not even thinking along those lines. That was not what drove the decision, no matter what anyone says or thinks."

Those who want to participate or register a group for the parade can call Public Works employee Tracey DeLuccia at 732-657-8121, ext. 3310.