Veterans Day Parade In Toms River Will Honor Those Who Served

TOMS RIVER, NJ — Two veterans have been chosen as the grand marshals of Monday's Ocean County Veterans Day Parade.

The parade in downtown Toms River, which begins at 9:45 a.m., leaves from the Toms River Shopping Center and travels down Main Street to 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.

"Veterans Day is a very important day to celebrate," Toms River Mayor Thomas Kelaher said. "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."

After the parade, there will be a ceremony held outside Toms River’s 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.

There is no rain date. If foul weather is forecast changes will be announced on WOBM FM, 92.7 on the FM dial. The forecast for Monday is partly cloudy and highs near 60 degree, according to to the Weather Channel.

If the parade is canceled, a ceremony will take place in Town Hall in the L. Manuel Hirsbhlond Meeting Room at 10 a.m.

U.S. Army Sgt. John Elley and U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Michael Robert Weigand are the grand marshals.

Elley was assigned to the 854th Engineer Battalion at Fort Dix. In 2003, he was ordered to active duty and reassigned to the 52nd Engineer Battalion at Fort Carson, Colorado, and deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. During his deployment in Iraq he assisted in base camp security, building guard towers and dining facilities and also assisted in many humanitarian missions. Elley’s deployment ended in 2004 and he was reassigned back to the 854th Engineer Battalion at Fort Dix. He reached the rank of Sergeant E-5 before leaving the U.S. Army in 2009.

Weigand, of Toms River, served 14 years in the Marines. He graduated from the India Company, 3rd Battalion at Parris Island in 2000. He held several different jobs in the Marine Corps including heavy equipment operator, amphibious assault vehicle operator and II Marine Expeditionary Force Unit. Weigand received numerous awards including the Combat Action Ribbon, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, National Defense Medal, War on Terrorism Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal and the Marine Corps Armed Forces Reserve Medal.

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