John Basilone Parade 2023 To Kick Off Sunday

RARITAN, NJ — Raritan will host its 42nd Annual John Basilone Memorial Parade honoring its National World War II hero, Marine Sergeant John Basilone on Sunday, Sept. 24 at 1 p.m.

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.

The Grand Marshal is World War II Veteran Archie Fagan who participated in the Battle of the Bulge and the Liberation of the Dachau concentration camp.

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. 23 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 a.m.

The parade website is johnbasiloneparade.com. Parade email is basiloneparade@gmail.com.