Township Announces Grand Marshall, Speaker for Memorial Day Parade

Longtime Wyckoff resident Harold Allen has been appointed the Grand Marshall of the Wyckoff Memorial Day parade on May 30. The parade ceremony will being at 9:00 a.m. at Fire House No. 1 behind Town Hall, where a service to honor the town's deceased firefighters will be held.

At 10:00 a.m. a veteran's memorial service will be held on the lawn of the Wyckoff Reformed Church on WyckoffAvenue, site of the Township’s War Memorial. During the 10:00 a.m. Veterans Memorial service Charles Ryan, Past Commander, Midland Park-Wyckoff V.F.W. Post #7086 will be Master of Ceremonies.  Mayor Kevin J. Rooney will give the welcoming address. In addition to World War II veteran Allen as Grand Marshall, USMC and United States Army Specialist David Galasso will be speaker.

On the honor of being named the Grand Marshall of the event Allen told Patch he was very proud.

"It's a special honor being I've lived here most of my life. I'm proud they picked me," he said. "It's a great privilege to have the people in town think so much of me. All the children and grandchildren are coming down and will be here. That's great"

Allen attended Coolidge and Washington schools. He volunteered for the Marine Corps on January 26, 1945 and was sworn in to the Service at the Recruiting Station, New York City.  During his years of service he was awarded the World War II Victory medal, the American Campaign Medal and the Honorable Discharge Lapel Pin. 

Harold was a former member and past Commander of the HaledonVFW.  He is still active in the Midland Park-Wyckoff VFW Post No. 7086, and the Midland Park-Wyckoff American Legion Post No. 130, where he also served as the Commander.  He is also a member of the Marine Corps League, Military Transport Association, Wyckoff Seniors Club and the Memorial Day Parade Committee in Wyckoff and Midland Park.  He was previously honored as the GrandMarshal in the Midland Park Memorial Day Parade.

The parade's speaker will be David Galasso,  a 1984 graduate of Lakeland Regional H.S. in Wanaque, N.J. After graduating from high school, Galasso enlisted in the U.S. Army, and served on active duty from 1984 to 1988.

 In 1986, Specialist Galasso deployed to Europe andserved as a squad leader with the 2^nd Division, 4^th Infantry Battalion, Charlie Company, Scout Platoon. While serving with the 2^nd Division he held a secret clearance, and led & supported dozens of short-range reconnaissance patrols around several strategic missile sites located throughout Europe during the Cold War.

Specialist Galasso’s awards and decorations include; the Army Commendation Medal (w/ 1 oak leaf cluster), the Army Achievement Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Army Overseas Service Ribbon, the Expert Infantryman’s Badge, the Expert Marksmanship Badge (both rifle & grenade), the Jungle Warfare Expert Badge, the 101^st Recon Badge, the Air Assault Badge and the Airborne Badge.

Galasso currently resides in Wyckoff, NJ with his wife and two children.