Thousands Expected for Morris Plains Parade

Both Morris Plains and Morris Township are keeping up their Memorial Day traditions this weekend and taking part in annual parades and ceremonies to honor veterans and those lost while serving the country.

Morris Plains will hold its . The parade, which borough officials say is the largest in Morris County, will kick off following an opening ceremony at 9:30 a.m.

The service before the parade will start at 9 a.m. at , at the corner of Glenbrook Road and Mountain Way. The ceremony will be conducted by members of and Denville American Legion Post 390 and end with comments from Art Grant, the former commander of VFW Watnog Post 3401.

More than 100 units representing local and county organizations will march in the parade that ends at VFW Watnong Post 3401. There will be 15 bands marching as well.

The grand marshals for the parade will be the Morris Plains Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary and the Morris Plains 9/11 Committee, both recipients of the borough’s community service awards.

Parade Chairman Steve Welsh said in recent years several thousand people attended, and parade organizers are expecting the same this year.

On Monday, Morris Township will participate in a joint Memorial Day cermony and parade with Morristown.

Opening ceremonies for the public start at 10 a.m. at the .

At about 10:30 a.m., the parade will start from the municipal building and travel to the . The police and fire departments, veterans, Little League members and the Marching Band will all participate in the parade.

After the parade, there will be another ceremony at the Green at about 11 a.m. Morris Township Peter Mancuso is the keynote speaker, and Bob Tracey of the VFW will also make comments.

"I would encourage all of our residents to come out and honor our veterans, and especially the soldiers that lost their lives in the various conflicts," Township Administrator Timothy Quinn said.

"It's a very moving experience and I hope that they would come to both the ceremony here in the township and then also up at the Green, and take a little time out of their memorial day weekend to thank our veterans."