Newtown Dodges Raindrops To Remember The Fallen On Memorial Day

NEWTOWN, PA — From the solitude of the Newtown Cemetery to Veterans Plaza on historic State Street, Taps split the morning air as Newtown remembered the nation’s fallen heroes.

As showers dampened the streets, the town’s Memorial Day Parade stepped off from the Newtown Cemetery where veterans from American Legion Post 440 rendered honors and fired salutes at the grave of Morell Smith, who died fighting for his country during World War I. The Newtown American Legion Post bears his name in memory of his sacrifice.

Newtown veterans render honors at the grave of Morell Smith at the Newtown Cemetery. (Jeff Werner/Patch)

Taps echo through the gravestones at the Newtown Cemetery. (Jeff Werner/Patch)

Veterans gather aboard a float for the parade through Newtown. (Jeff Werner/Patch)

American Legion Commander Kyle Davis and Newtown Township Police Chief John Hearn with the parade's motorcycle escorts. (Jeff Werner/Patch)

Following the graveside ceremony, the parade marched to the town's World War I monument in front of the Newtown Library Company, where the veterans laid a wreath, saluted the men and women who gave their lives in the cause of freedom, and paused as the Council Rock North Band played “Going Home.”

As the town remembered its fallen heroes, people lining the parade route waved flags and cheered as local veterans led the march through town bearing the nation’s colors and looking sharp in their military uniforms.

A motorcycle police escort led the way as a Color Guard made up of local veterans paraded through town, followed by Post 440 Commander Kyle Davis, Vice Commander John Frain and Chaplain Brian Mills, and a parade of local veterans walking and riding the parade route.

Joining the veterans for the parade was the award-winning Council Rock High School North Marching Band, which performed a musical salute to the U.S. Armed Services as they marched through town with flags twirling and instruments playing.

Members of the Council Rock North Marching Band parading through Newtown. (Jeff Werner/Patch)

U.S. Army veteran Chuck Resch, who served the nation during the Vietnam War, has been given the honor of being this year's Memorial Day Grand Marshal. (Jeff Werner/Patch)

(Jeff Werner/Patch)

Pausing at the World War I memorial. (Jeff Werner/Patch)

Veterans salute the fallen during Memorial Day ceremonies in Newtown. (Jeff Werner/Patch)

(Jeff Werner/Patch)

Revolutionary War re-enactors from 1st Crossing Volunteers. (Jeff Werner/Patch)

Newtown Fire Rescue led by Chief Glenn Forsyth. (Jeff Werner/Patch)

(Jeff Werner/Patch)

Newtown Fire Rescue joined the march with the volunteers marching by in their snappy dress uniforms, followed by a parade of fire trucks. The Newtown Ambulance Squad also joined the parade.

Local politicians also joined the march, including Newtown Borough Mayor Tara Grunde-McLaughlin and members of the Newtown Borough Council and the Township Board of Supervisors. State Rep. Perry Warren was also part of the parade.

The parade also included local Scouting organizations, the Council Rock Newtown Baseball Association, the 1st Volunteers from Crossing Community Church, American Legion Post 440 baseball team; military vehicles; Broken Arrow Ranch; and much more.

At the Newtown Borough Hall, festively decorated in red, white, and blue bunting, the parade paused for a brief Memorial Day ceremony.

The veterans led the gathering in prayer, welcomed the public to the town’s Memorial Day observance, and laid a wreath at Veterans Plaza, followed by the playing of Taps. The guest speaker was U.S. Marine Corps veteran John Heenan.

Following the ceremony, the parade continued its march south on State Street and west on Centre and the Richboro Road before concluding at the Post home on Linden Avenue.

State Rep. Perry Warren, Mayor Tara Grunde-McLaughlin and member of the Newtown Borough Council. (Jeff Werner/Patch)

Horse riders from Broken Arrow Ranch. (Jeff Werner/Patch)