Parade Chairman Steve Welsh promised good weather, and darned if he didn’t come through.
Sandwiched between a week of rain and Saturday afternoon thunderstorms, the 26th annual Morris Plains Memorial Day Parade sauntered up Speedwell Avenue with lots of sunny smiles.
A “low ceiling” grounded a flyover by stunt planes, but otherwise everything appeared to go according to plan.
Well, okay, there was one scary moment.
Remember, the Community of Caring has experienced more than its share of close calls on Memorial Day. (Bears, aerial mishaps, horse stampedes, etc.)
During Saturday’s pre-parade ceremony at Roberts Garden, the speeches were interrupted with a clatter as a young man in the color guard fainted and collapsed on his rifle.
This face-plant would have been even more startling had it followed, instead of preceded, the rifle volleys that punctuate the service.
Fortunately, members of the aptly named Morris Minute Men EMS squad were on the scene almost before the teenager hit the ground. Steve Welsh later reported that the lad was okay.
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The actual parade was devoid of any unpleasant surprises–at least, that was the view from Division 3, where MorristownGreen.com’s Parade Brigade was well represented as always.
Our Bagpiper Emeritus, Jim Hicks, came out of semi-retirement to give us some Celtic karma. Gus and Peter Bacas of Timeless Jazz, the unofficial MG house band, proved their versatility by coolly re-writing sax lines in the line of march, after a musical comrade fell sick. (Catch the entire Timeless Jazz ensemble at Morristown High School’s Jazz Night on May 30.)
MG Kids Editor Sharon Sheridan, who did such a wonderful job organizing our recent MG Kids Art Show, marched alongside MG Kids Correspondents Alyse and Alex Jefferson and their mom, Crystal. MG Correspondent Marie Pfeifer captured the spirit of the occasion with her Rosie the Riveter costume.
And we were honored to welcome a special guest to our ranks: Bill Byrne, whose volunteer efforts on behalf of the “differently abled” were honored this month by the Morristown mayor and council.
Thank you one and all for your fine company today.
As in years past, everyone was rewarded with hot dogs and birch beer at the VFW post, where we had the great pleasure of meeting sisters Katie and Liz Moronski, ages 9 and 8, respectively.
Katie was eager to tell General George that her family is related to Declaration of Independence signer Robert Morris and also to Mrs. Ford, the kind lady who hosted Washington in her Morristown mansion during the Revolution.
Katie and Liz obliged us with autographs, to mark our historic meeting.
And that pretty much sums up parade day in the Plains. Now, we’re going to corner Mr. Welsh and really test his forecasting skills.
Who do you like for the Stanley Cup, Steve?
MORE ABOUT THE MEMORIAL DAY PARADE