Honoring Soldiers Who Gave Their All; 2016 Bethel Memorial Day Parade – 100+ PHOTOS

“All Gave Some, Some Gave All,” Memorial Day 2016, remembering and honoring those who perished.

 

Report by Paula Antolini
May 30, 2016 9:00AM EDT

 

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Honoring Soldiers Who Gave Their All; 2016 Bethel Memorial Day Parade – 100+ PHOTOS

What a special tribute, to spend a sunny Sunday afternoon gathering in downtown Bethel with family, friends and fellow residents, to honor our fallen heroes during the Memorial Day Parade on May 22, 2016.

There is something magical and Norman-Rockwell-ish when many of the town’s people and officials come out in high numbers, marching in the parade or sitting in their lawn chairs curbside, excited in anticipation, ready to watch the parade.  We see children eating ice cream and waving American flags, many dressed in red, white and blue for the occasion.  Some residents even brought the family pets along who were dutifully resting at their owner’s feet or happily and furiously wagging their tail, and yes dogs can smile.

The parade began at 2:00 p.m. near Sycamore’s at the north end of Bethel’s main street, Greenwood Avenue, lead by two shiny Bethel Police cars with lights flashing.  The parade wound its way past antique-style lamp posts decked in American flags, past store fronts and cheering crowds, turning left at P.T. Barnum Square, and left again on School Street, ending at the CJH Municipal lawn.

We are reminded why we love Bethel and our country on Memorial Day when we honor soldiers who died fighting to protect the very things that give us freedom to live our lives in peace and happiness in America.  Seeing the fruit of our community pass before our eyes, smiling faces of so many different groups, happy school children, marching bands with shiny brass instruments blaring, drummers drumming, girls with huge pink flags twirling high in the air, the tall man and jugglers, and oh those shiny red fire trucks!  All the volunteers, officials, police, firefighters, military, and our young NJROTC students, who serve and protect us, proudly marching, carrying flags and banners.  And let’s not forget the Bethel Garden Club members who beautified Bethel’s main street with floral plantings days earlier, so our town could look perfect for the occasion.

Of course our veterans took center stage marching down the street, and the Grand Marshalls of the parade, riding in vehicles on this special day, remember those that died fighting to keep our country free, the real meaning of the day.

It is times like these that we remember the soldiers that gave their lives so we could live ours fully, in peace and with freedom, and we honor them on this day.

All of this is what makes our community a special place in which to live, and our country grand.

 

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A special Veterans Ceremony took place on the municipal lawn after the parade.

CLICK HERE to read about the event after the parade: “50 PHOTOS/VIDEOS: Bethel Veterans Memorial Ceremony at CJH Municipal Center Took Place on May 22nd”

 

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A special Ceremony to Honor Fallen Firefighters took place at the Bethel Volunteer Fire Department before the parade.

CLICK HERE to read about and view photos of the event before the parade: “50 PHOTOS: Bethel Volunteer Fire Department Honors Fallen Firefighters”

 

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VIEW MORE PARADE PHOTOS BELOW.

Click on all photos to view larger.

 

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MORE PHOTOS COMING SHORTLY … CHECK BACK SOON

 

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