Allentown Lions Memorial Day Parade 2009
The parade will be held rain or shine on Monday, May 25th starting at 10:00 AM. Please arrive by 9:30AM due to Main Street and High Street road closures. A Memorial Service will follow the parade on the Allentown Grammar school grounds.The parade will proceed south through the center of town, across the Conine Millpond Bridge turning onto High Street, and finish at the Upper Freehold Regional Elementary-Middle School. There is excellent viewing on both sides of the parade route with the intersections of Church Street and Main Street, and High Street and Main Street being favorites. Grand Marshals Joan and Art West, will lead the 2009 Memorial Day Parade.
The parade will be followed by a Memorial Service featuring a memorial salute by members of American Legion Post #31's Honor Guard and the Civil Air Patrol, Squadron NJ 082, Color Guard, led by its Commander, Lt. Col. Jay Davidson. Members of the Civil Air Patrol, led by Capt. Jerry Rovner, USN (Ret) will demonstrate the folding of the American flag and its presentation in honor of those who gave their lives in service to our country. Patriotic selections and "Taps" will be performed by the Allentown High School, Redbird Marching Band, directed by Jeff Santoro. The service will take place at the memorial monument near the upper entrance to the school.
The Parade features 40 separate groups and includes Allentown and Upper Freehold Township dignitaries, 5 bands, Color Guards, Honor Guards, the Crescent Temple Motor Cycle Drill Team, 4-H groups, antique and classic cars, school athletic teams, clowns, local service clubs, Future Farmers of America, floats and marching groups
Grand Marshals
Art and Joan West have been selected to be the Grand Marshals of the 56th Allentown Lions Memorial Day parade to be held on May 25th. This is only the second time that the Allentown Lions Club, sponsor of the parade, has selected a couple to be so honored.
Art has been living in Upper Freehold since the age of ten. Joan is truly a native of the area, being born in Dr. Farmer's Hospital located in the center of Allentown.
Although they both attended Allentown High School they didn't begin dating until Art was a freshman at Delaware Valley College where he received a Bachelor of Science Degree. It was in his senior year that Art and Joan married.
Art and Joan feel that they have been truly blessed. They have two children, Brad and Kelly, and five grand children, Kaleigh 9, Mason 8, Kody 7, Payton 4 and Kyle 3.
Art's vocation is the same as our country's founders, farming. He is carrying on his family's tradition by working the land known as West Haven Farm. Joan, has been employed by the Upper Freehold School District since 1981. She is loved by all the children in the elementary school for her thoughtfulness and full support of their efforts. Her commitment and dedication to the children has earned her the respect of all the parents.
Both Art and Joan have given back so much to the community over the years. Art is a past member of the Lions Club, served on the School Board for 9 years, on the Allentown Borough Council for 7 years, the County Board of Agriculture, Shade Tree and Environmental and Parks Improvements Committees. He is presently serving on the Economic Development Committee. Joan has assisted in the development of young girls by serving as a Girl Scout Leader, served as an officer of the PTA, a member of the Allentown 300th Anniversary Committee, and Villagers. She continues serving her community as a member of the Strategic Committee for Upper Freehold Schools and various church committees.
It is the dedication of Art and Joan to their community that has moved the Allentown Lions Club to select them as Grand Marshals.
We look forward to another great year of Lionism and serving the community.
Allentown Lions club Members volunteer their time to host local events funded by generous donations from our community; including the Allentown Memorial Day Parade and The Easter Egg Hunt. With the donations we have raised, the Allentown Lions Club was able to fund the creation of the playground at Byron Johnson Park in Upper Freehold.
Allentown Lions club is a supporter of the following local organizations:
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We are proud to partner with the following local organizations:
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