America's Only Parade Celebration Honoring A War Hero Is Saturday In Raritan

Community Corner

America's Only Parade Celebration Honoring A War Hero Is Saturday In Raritan National World War II hero Marine Sergeant John Basilone received the Congressional Medal of Honor and Navy Cross posthumously.

RARITAN, NJ — For the past 43 years, the Borough of Raritan has hosted its Annual John Basilone Memorial Parade honoring its National World War II hero, Marine Sergeant John Basilone.

On Sunday starting at 1 p.m., the parade will continue its tradition as being the only parade celebration in America to honor a war hero.

Sergeant Basilone received the Congressional Medal of Honor for his gallant action during the Battle of Guadalcanal in 1942 and the Navy Cross posthumously for more heroism in the Battle of Iwo Jima where he was killed in 1945.

The special guest riding in this year's parade will be actress Loretta Swit. She is best known for her portrayal of Major Margaret Houlihan on M*A*S*H, for which she won two Emmy Awards.

This year's Grand Marshal is Vietnam Veteran Ray Manzo. He was awarded the Bronze Star for heroics in battle and later founded the advocacy group Rolling Thunder.

This year's parade, which marches along Somerset Street in downtown Raritan, will include military groups and veterans' organizations, floats, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, ROTC units, Civil Air Patrol Cadets, military vehicles, Marine Detachments, fire companies, rescue squads, and other civic and patriotic groups.

The weekend events begin on Saturday, Sept. 21 with a 5K Run, which will start at the Basilone Statue at 10 a.m. (registration begins at 9 a.m.).

Preceding the Parade on Sunday, the John Basilone Museum at the Raritan Public Library will be open to visitors at 10 a.m. and a Memorial Mass will be celebrated at St. Ann's Church at 10:30 a.m.

New groups are welcome to march – register at the parade website: johnbasiloneparade.com . Parade email is .

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