A good deed by Morristown High’s football champions
You don’t want to run into these guys on a gridiron. Off the field, however, the state champion Morristown High School football team is a pretty decent bunch.
Over the Memorial Day weekend, Coach Chris Hull led many of his Colonials to Evergreen Cemetery to place flags on grave sites. Our thanks to Deirdre Schunk for these photos.
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Members of the state champion Morristown High School football team at Evergreen Cemetery, where they placed flags on graves over the Memorial Day weekend. Photo courtesy of Deirdre Schunk
MG Kids gives thumbs-up to the Morris Plains parade
By Carl Hausman, MG Kids Correspondent
On Saturday, my mother and I plus my mom’s boss and a couple other people marched in the Memorial Day parade in Morris Plains.
Me and my dad. Sharon Sheridan photo
My dad just took pictures of the parade where we weren’t. My mom wasn’t sure whether that was thinking ahead or not wanting to be seen with my mom’s boss, Kevin. He was dressed up as George Washington.
My mom and George, aka Kevin Coughlin. Paul Hausman photo
Are you wondering what we were in the parade for? It sounds ironic, but it was for this very program, MorristownGreen.com.
Ahead of us was a group of dog owners with their dogs marching in the parade to celebrate the opening of a new dog park. My favorites were a group of three Tibetan mastiffs. They had thick fur and must have been absolutely sweltering.
One of the dogs marching in front of us, a husky, stops for a drink of water. Sharon Sheridan photo
Just behind us was a long line of antique cars. There was a blue one at the head.
Two of the classic cars. Sharon Sheridan photo
We had to get held back because we were in the wrong place. Originally we’d thought we were just in front of the Denville String Band. They were rather eccentric with giant feathers sticking out of their backs.
The Denville String Band. Paul Hausman photo
Also, just in back of the string band but in front of the dogs were some sheepherding dogs herding goats with tractors driving behind.
The sheepherding dogs at work. Paul Hausman photo
My job in the parade was to help hold up the Morristown Green banner. When you’ve got the wind trying to carry you away and somebody who keeps talking his phone holding the other end and your arms are sore, it is not as easy as it looks!
Carrying the banner at the start of the parade. Sharon Sheridan photo
Sue Cowap of Flanders jams with other fife and drum players at the picnic following the parade. Sharon Sheridan photo
The food at the end was just excellent. There were hot dogs, birch beer and water. And in one of the bands that was staying and playing some, there was a mother of one of my friends. She was playing the fife.
After awhile, we went home. It was very exciting. I can’t wait to go next year.
Do you like to write? MG Kids welcomes junior reporters for our staff. We also encourage kids of all ages to submit artwork, poetry and fiction for publication on our site. Click here for more information.
Soren Obermueller enjoys a hot dog after the parade. Paul Hausman photo
The Morris Plains Memorial Day parade, photographed by Paul Hausman
That was some parade in Morris Plains on Saturday. The photos keep streaming in. Here are some memorable moments preserved by Paul Hausman.
TRAVELING IN STYLE: Young passenger surveys the Morris Plains Memorial Day Parade. Photo by Paul Hausman
The Morris Plains Memorial Day parade, through the lens of Hal Crosthwaite
We had a wonderful time marching in Saturday’s Memorial Day Parade in Morris Plains. If there was any downside, it was that we could not see many of the colorful floats that were ahead of us.
Fortunately, Hal Crosthwaite was there with his trusty camera. He did his usual terrific job capturing the color and pageantry of the parade. Check out these photos:
Photos by Hal Crosthwaite.
WHADDYA MEAN, NO TURN ON RED? A scene from the 2011 Morris Plains Memorial Day Parade. Photo by Hal Crosthwaite.
Scenes from Gold Star Mothers Tree rededication on the Morristown Green, by Bill Lescohier
Bob Tracey, a veteran of two wars, spoke for the 55th straight year at Monday’s Memorial Day ceremony on the Morristown Green, where the Gold Star Mothers Tree was rededicated.
The tree, which dates back 65 years, honors the sacrifice of families who have lost loved ones in the military.
Two Gold Star mothers were recognized: Cheryl Doltz of Mine Hill, and Louise Newton of Wayne.
Cheryl’s son, Sgt. Ryan Doltz, was killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq in 2004. Louise lost her son, Naval Officer Ronald Arthur Schneider, and his wife, Betsy, to a drunk driver in 1977. They were struck while driving back to the U.S.S. John F. Kennedy in Virginia.
Bill Lescohier captured these images of the ceremony, on a warm May day that felt more like July.
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For 55 years, Bob Tracey has honored fallen servicemen and women with his Memorial Day speeches on the Morristown Green. The retired postmaster is a veteran of World War II and the Korean War. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Greater Morristown honors its fallen heroes
“Happy Memorial Day” does not sound right.
“Remember” seems a more fitting greeting on the unofficial start of summer.
“Memorial Day should not just be a day off from school and work. It is a time to remember our fallen heroes, and celebrate their lives,” Cheryl Doltz told a Memorial Day gathering last week outside the Morris County courthouse.
The Mine Hill resident remembers a fallen hero every single day. Her son, Sgt. Ryan Doltz, was killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq in June 2004.
Cheryl was involved in efforts to persuade New Jersey to issue Gold Star license plates, signifying a family’s loss of a loved one serving in the military.
GOLD STAR MOTHER: Cheryl Doltz of Mine Hill displays Gold Star license plate, signifying her family's sacrifice. Her son, Sgt. Ryan Doltz, was killed in Iraq by a roadside bomb in June 2004. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
At 11 a.m on Monday, May 30, the Gold Star Mothers tree on the Morristown Green will be re-dedicated. The Norway Spruce has been commemorating America’s war dead and the families who mourn them since just after World War II.
Mothers always want their kids to come home from school with gold stars on their report cards. Kids don’t want their moms getting gold stars. Not the kind that sits atop that tree on the Green, or the one emblazoned on Cheryl Doltz’s license plate.
It’s Memorial Day.
Remember.
RELATED MEMORIAL DAY COVERAGE:
Morris Plains Memorial Day Parade celebrates 25th anniversary in style
Making WAVES, and proud of it: Morristown author remembers Navy days in WWII
Giant U.S. flag announced Memorial Day service last week at the Morris County courthouse in Morristown. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
The Morris Plains Memorial Day parade celebrates 25th anniversary in style
The sun was glorious. The F-16C fighter jets buzzed overhead as scheduled. The hot dogs and birch beer at VFW Watnong Post 3401 tasted great afterward.
Thank you, Morris Plains, for another Memorial Day Parade worthy of the men and women that it honors.
Saturday marked the parade’s 25th anniversary in the “Community of Caring.” Mayor Frank Druetzler, parade organizer Steve Welsh, and their volunteers care a lot about the details; we tip our tri-cornered hats to them, by George!
About 100 groups and organizations participated. MorristownGreen.com was proud to be among them for the fourth straight year.
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COLORFUL MUSICIANS: Bagpiper Jim Hicks, left, and Bernie Dennison of the Denville String Band, one of 16 bands in the 25th annual Morris Plains Memorial Day Parade. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Our thanks to all the parade folks, and to the VFW, for their hospitality. Thanks also to parade announcer Larry Ripley for his nice shout-out.
And thank you to members of the MG family who shared part of their holiday weekend with us in Morris Plains:
MG Kids Editor Sharon Sheridan, MG Kids Correspondent Carl Hausman, and photographers Paul Hausman and Hal Crosthwaite; bagpiper extraordinaire Jim Hicks; Timeless Jazz, the MG house band, featuring Gus Bacas, Peter Bacas, Anthony Galante and Evan Piascik; dining critic Warren Bobrow; Mike, Irene and Connor Leavey, and Connor’s aunt, Connie Van Trease; and Danielle and Ken Barker.
The right to march as free Americans was bought at a dear price. The biggest thank you must go to the servicemen and women who sacrificed everything for this country. They deserve to be in our hearts today, and every day.
Scout stands respectfully during wreath ceremony prior to 25th annual Morris Plains Memorial Day Parade. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Roundup of MG Memorial Day coverage in Morristown, Morris Plains and Morris Township
Flags seen from train rolling from Whippany Rail Museum on Saturday. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Here’s where to find our stories, photos and videos from the Memorial Day weekend in Greater Morristown. You also can find our coverage of the Morris Plains parade here.
Scenes from Memorial Day on the Morristown Green
Bob Tracey, Morristown’s retired postmaster, served in World War II and the Korean War. Today marked the 54th year that he has spoken at the town’s Memorial Day observance.
Bob is known as a tireless advocate for veterans. He is a regular visitor at veterans hospitals, and organizes celebrity visits to cheer up the vets. He has done a radio show on veterans issues. He makes sure that graves of veterans are properly decorated this time of year.
At 84, he is battling throat cancer and leg problems. He says he will let the man upstairs decide how many more Memorial Days he can muster.
In the meantime, Bob continues advocating for his fellow soldiers, living and dead. This morning he dedicated a memorial stone at Morris Township Hall to Patric Hyland, a Marine Corps veteran and former Morris County freeholder who passed away in 2007. And he urged listeners on the Morristown Green to support a council measure to name Morristown “The Community of Patriotism.”
Here are some photos; video to come later.
Bob Tracey speaks at 2010 Memorial Day service on the Morristown Green. It's the 54th year that Bob has done so. Beside him is Marine Corps veteran Richard Conti. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Video: Timeless Jazz plays its patriotic best at 2010 Morris Plains Memorial Day Parade
Timeless Jazz gave its patriotic best at the 2010 Morris Plains Memorial Day Parade on Saturday. The trio consisted of Gus Bacas on baritone sax, Peter Bacas on tenor sax, and Anthony Galante on alto sax. Check them out in this video. (About one minute.)
COMPLETE MEMORIAL DAY COVERAGE
Members of Timeless Jazz-- Anthony Galante, Gus Bacas and Peter Bacas--performing at the 2010 Morris Plains Memorial Day Parade. You can hear them Wednesday at Morristown High's jazz night. Admission is free. Photo by Kevin Coughlin.
