(cover photo credit: Karen Wall, Patch.com)

Lakewood

Lakewood Township will honor those who gave their lives in military service to the United States with a parade on Memorial Day.

The parade will begin with the raising of the U.S. flag at Town Square and end with a ceremony at the All Wars Memorial on Lake Carasaljo. It is part of a nearly 160-year tradition and the highlight of the three-day Memorial Day Weekend — May 27-29 this year.

The ceremony begins with the flag-raising at 11 a.m., and then is followed by a parade south down Clifton Avenue (Route 9) to North Lake Drive, to the All Wars Memorial at Lake Carasaljo. There will be a ceremony at the memorial conducted by Mayor Raymond Coles and Deputy Mayor Menashe Miller beginning at noon.

The Memorial Day parade will include the various veterans’ organizations, Ocean County Sheriff’s Department will be bringing their horse, Lakewood Police Department and Lakewood Police Color Guards, LHS Army JROTC, Lakewood PBA, LCSW (Lakewood Civilian Safety Watch), SCHI (School for Children with Hidden Intelligence), Bikur Cholim, CHEMED, Ocean County Cultural and Heritage Commission, Bethel Pentecostal Church, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Lakewood High School (LHS) cheerleaders, LHS Marching Band, the Lakewood Soccer Club, Lakewood Public Works, Lakewood Fire Department, Lakewood EMS, Chaveirim, and Hatzolah,  among others.

Toms River

The annual Memorial Day parade in Toms River, organized by George P. Vanderveer American Legion Post 129 is set for Monday, May 29.

American Legion Post 129 has been organizing the parade for years, part of a nearly 160-year tradition that pays tribute to military personnel who lost their lives in service to their country.

The parade, which is set to step off at 9:30 a.m. on Memorial Day and march down Main Street, is the highlight of the three-day Memorial Day Weekend — May 27-29 this year.

Those who wish to march are asked to gather on Highland Parkway near the Office Lounge by 9 a.m. The parade will travel from Highland Parkway, down Main Street to Washington Street, and east on Washington Street to Town Hall for a ceremony to honor the U.S. war dead.

Every year, a national moment of remembrance is held at 3 p.m. local time on Memorial Day. No matter where they are or what they’re doing, Americans are asked to pause for one minute in silence to remember military personnel who have given their lives in service to their country. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, the midday time was chosen because it’s a time when many Americans will be enjoying their freedoms on a national holiday.

Jackson

Jackson’s Memorial Day Parade will begin at 10 AM at Holman Elementary School, and proceed through Manhattan Street to Johnson Park, where a memorial ceremony will be held.

Westlake Golf and Country Club will be hosting a memorial event as well.