Memorial Day Parade

To the sounds of bagpipes  and the Chatham Community Band's rendition of "The Caissons Go Rolling On," the American Legion Post 140, Millburn firefighters police officers and the rescue squad marched along with Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, St. Rose of Lima school children and Town Officials in remembrance of the those who have fought and died for America.

Among those marching was Jack Dalton, an 85-year-old veteran of World War II, a lifelong resident of Millburn who has marched in the Memorial Day Parade for decades.

"Every year, I'm here," he said. "It's a great day to remember. ...I was very lucky. Someone was watching over me."

Mayor Sandy Haimoff and Town Committee Member Robert Tillotson handed out flags to children along the route.

The dignitaries, musicians and children marched from the Short Hills train station to Taylor Park  with temperatures hovering near 90 degrees after an early morning thunderstorm increased humidity as well.

"It turned out to be a beautiful day," Haimoff said. "But we're going to need a lot of water on hand today."

The parade made its way down Short Hills Avenue then down to Millburn Avenue and on to Main Street and down to Taylor Park. Along the parade route on Millburn Avenue,  MHS musicians performed patriotic songs. 

The Chatham Community Band performed on a float in the parade and gave a  a mini-concert at Taylor park at the end with a medley of patriotic US Air Force service songs that included "Anchors Away," "When the Caissons go Rolling Alone" and  "Wild Blue Yonder."

Afterward there were hotdogs and music by Chatham Community Band's brass ensemble at the American Legion 140.

It was a good day to pause and remember - and started with a that honored 300 soldiers who fought in wars going back to the Revolutionary War.

Now it's back to work.