Trio Of Veterans To Lead Ocean County Veterans Day Parade

TOMS RIVER, NJ — Three U.S. veterans will lead marchers down Main Street on Monday for the annual Ocean County Veterans Day parade.

Army Sgt. George "Tyler" McGibbon, Army 1st Sgt. (Retired) Thomas Jones, and Air Force Brigadier Gen. Robert V. Paschon will serve as grand marshals for the parade, which is scheduled to step off on at 9:30 a.m. Monday from Main Street at Highland Parkway.

The parade is being held on Monday to enable the marching bands of the Toms River schools to participate; schools were closed this week due to the election and the state teachers' convention.

“We are working with the Veterans Commission to notify all residents and businesses that will be affected on November 13th," Toms River Mayor Thomas Kelaher said. "Our goal is to make your parade experience as enjoyable and seamless as possible.”

The parade begins at 9:30 a.m. at the Toms River Shopping Center on Route 37, proceeding south on Main Street (Route 166) and then east onto Washington Street. The parade will feature numerous military vehicles, elected officials, civic groups, first responders, local high school marching bands and a showcase of vintage cars. After the parade, there will be a ceremony held outside Toms River Town Hall at 33 Washington St. The post-parade ceremony will feature speakers and honored guests, a rifle salute, and the placing of the wreath on the veterans' monument.

“These three grand marshals are the perfect embodiment of the legacy of service that our military share," Kelaher said. "They represent the centuries-old tradition of our veterans who continue to serve their community after their service to our nation is concluded. As Americans, it’s our duty to honor and thank our veterans, today and every day.”

McGibbon, the youngest of the three grand marshals, graduated from Toms River High School East in 2013. During his senior year, he participated in the U.S. Army Future Soldier Program. Upon graduation, McGibbon attended cavalry school in Fort Benning, Georgia. He was stationed in Fort Riley, Kansas, with the First Infantry Division, 2nd Battalion, 34th Armor Regiment as a cavalry scout. Part of his job was flying Raven B system, a small unmanned aircraft system that aided in the reconnaissance.

In 2014, Sgt. McGibbon was involved in a Humvee rollover accident in Kuwait that resulted in a severe traumatic brain injury. He underwent multiple surgeries and was airlifted to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and then to McGuire VA Medical Center, where he remained in a coma for three months. In 2015, Sgt. McGibbon was transferred again to Walter Reed to continue with his recovery. On May 24, 2017, after 2,482 therapy appointments and multiple surgeries, he was medically retired, 100 percent disabled. Sgt. McGibbon returned home to Toms River where he continues therapy with his service dog Trooper.

Jones, who is from Toms River, enlisted in the Army in February 1993, completing Basic Training at Fort Jackson, SC and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Gordon, GA. Upon his completion of Advanced Individual Training in September 1993, he was assigned to HHC, 5th Engineer Battalion, Fort Leonard Wood, MO, where he served as a Signal Support Systems Specialist. In December 1996, he was assigned to HHC, 2nd Battalion 5th Infantry, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, where he served as the Battalion Communications Team Chief. In 2001, Jones was assigned to NCOA Drill Sergeant School, Fort Benning, GA, where he served as a Drill Sergeant Leader. Jones moved through various strategic combat and airborne operations, serving as a Battalion Communications Chief, Joint Communications Chief for the Special Operations Command in Afghanistan, Platoon Sergeant, then First Sergeant in 2009 and as the Senior Military Science Instructor for Princeton University. He has numerous awards and citations, including the Bronze Star with two oak leaf clusters, the Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Army Commendation Medal with four oak leaf clusters, the Army Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters and one silver oak leaf cluster, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Afghanistan (two bronze service stars) & Iraq Campaign Medal (four bronze service stars), the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Armed Forces Service Medal, the Parachutist badge, the Air Assault badge, the Pathfinder badge, the Drill Sergeant Identification badge and the Sapper tab.

Paschon, a graduate of Seton Hall School of Law, with a doctorate and certification as a certified public accountant, completed Squadron Officers School in 1971. He enlisted in the New Jersey Air National Guard in 1961 and received his commission as a Second Lieutenant, served as Budget Officer and was promoted to first lieutenant in 1966 and captain in 1968. Following his promotion, he went on to serve as the 108th Tactical Fighter Wing’s Training Officer and Personnel Officer and in 1972 was promoted to major. Paschon served as the 108th Staff Judge Advocate, was promoted to lieutenant colonel then full colonel in 1983 and served as the Assistant Adjutant General for the New Jersey National Guard, receiving recognition as a brigadier general in 1990. Brigadier General Paschon notably received numerous awards and decorations including the New Jersey Medal of Honor, New Jersey Merit Award with one silver oak leaf cluster and New Jersey Governor’s Unit Citation.

“These three 2017 grand marshals are exemplary individuals who will lead hundreds of veterans, civic groups and musical bands at this very meaningful event,” Council President Al Manforti said.

“Veterans Day is a very important day to celebrate,” said Kelaher, a Marine Corps veteran. “It is especially important that we thank and honor all those who served honorably in the military — in wartime or peacetime – for their dedicated service to our country and for risking their lives to keep us safe.”

Photo via Stacy Proebstle, Toms River Township public information officer