95th ANNUAL MEMORIAL DAY PARADE BEVERLY CITY EDGEWATER PARK TOWNSHIP W.A. CORTRIGHT, JR. POST # 115 AMERICAN LEGION Beverly National Cemetery ..Our Hero’s Resting Place... MAY 26, 2014 Parade Route and Wreath Ceremonies There will be a Memorial Service At Dunks Ferry On Sunday May 25th at 12:00 Noon The parade will start at 1 PM on Monday, May 26th at Cooper & Green Street in Edgewater Park 95th Memorial Day Parade Participants Grand Marshall Edward M. Gitto, United States Army and New Jersey National Guard Veteran Thomas R. Campbell, Jr. US Navy, Retired Wayne Frederick, US Air Force, Retired Reverend Anne McRae Wrede and Reverend Fred Pray, Deacon, St. Stephens Church Members of the Clergy Slade Valentine American Legion Post 336 Color Guard Burlington City High School JROTC John Loftus – USAF Retired, River Rat Military – USMC, USAF, USCG American Legion Auxiliary, Unit 115 Toys for Tots Marine Corp Reserve Assemblyman Troy Singleton Freeholder Amy Belgard Freeholder Joanne Schwartz Mayor Randy Miller, Beverly City Mayor Tom Pullion, Edgewater Park Boys Scouts of America Troop #24 Venturing Crew #82 Willingboro Daisy Girl Scout Troop 20728 Brownie Troop #20610 Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks #2550 Beverly United Methodist Church Beverly Presbyterian Church Macedonia Baptist Church Beverly Clean Communities Ebenezer’s Elixir Band Burlington City High School Blue Devils Marching Band Edgewater Park Athletic Association Jersey Yahoos – Burlington’s own 23rd Inf. Regiment Team Torres Martial Arts No Name Cars Club Antique Tractors – The Beverly Bee Beverly Emergency Squad Delanco EMS Lourdes EMS Beverly Fire Dept. and the 2nd Street Irish Society Bagpipe Band A grateful Thank You to the Beverly Fire Dept. for their donation of the 2nd Street Irish Society Bagpipe Band Burlington Township Fire Dept. Burlington City Fire Dept. Delanco Fire Dept. DUNKS FERRY DELAWARE RIVER MEMORIAL WREATH CEREMONY The gift of flowers at a memorial site is a ritual that occurs around the world. The floral tributes bespeak both the beauty and the brevity of life and evoke memories of our loved ones. Please join Beverly City Mayor, Randy Miller, along with the Beverly City Council, Mayor Tom Pullion, Edgewater Park Township along with Edgewater Park Township Committee and members of Edgewater Park Elks Lodge # 2550 as we salute, honor, praise and extol the valor & courage of our Revolutionary Soldiers at Rest. The Dunks Ferry Wreath Laying Ceremony honors General George Washington's Continental Navy. The U.S. Navy recognizes, October 13, 1775, as the date of the official establishment of the Navy. It was on that date that the Continental Congress at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, passed a Resolution creating General George Washington's Continental Navy. HONORING GEORGE WASHINGTON’S CONTINENTAL NAVY AND REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIERS AT REST 12 NOON SUNDAY MAY 25TH 2014 Refreshments served after ceremony HISTORIC RIVERFRONT PARK, BEVERLY,NJ America’s White Table Ceremony Presented By John Loftus, USAF Retired, Red River Rat 12 Noon• SUNDAY• MAY 25TH •2014 Dunks Ferry Historic Riverfront Park• Beverly •NJ A little-known tradition to the outside civilian world, “the white table” originated during the time of the Vietnam War as a symbol for and remembrance to service members held prisoner of war or missing in action. Solitary and solemn, it is the table where no one will ever sit. It was just a little white table…. To show one soldier’s lonely battle against many. We cover it with a white cloth to honor a soldier’s Pure heart when he answers his country’s call to duty. We place a lemon slice and grains of salt on a plate. To show a captive soldier’s bitter fate and the tears of families Waiting for loved ones to return. We push an empty chair to the table For the missing soldiers who are not here. We lay a black napkin for the sorrow of captivity, And turn over a glass for the meal that won’t be eaten. We place a white candle for peace and finally, a red rose In a vase tied with a red ribbon for the hope that All our missing will return someday. It was just a little white table…. Adapted from the Margot Theis Raven’s book…America’s White Table The Original Table was set by the Red River Valley Fighter Pilots Association or “The River Rats” to remember those who did not return. A toast of water to those who have not returned… YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN SO LONG AS THERE IS ONE LEFT IN WHOM YOUR MEMORY REMAINS. Beverly City, Edgewater Park Township 95th Annual Memorial Day Parade 2014 Grand Marshall Edward M. Gitto, United States Army and New Jersey National Guards Veteran At the age of 22, Edward M Gitto was drafted in the US Army on November 13, 1961. This would be the start of his 26 year career in the Military. Basic training and basic army administration took place at Fort Jackson South Carolina. After the 16 weeks of basic training Edward was sent to Fort Benjamin Indiana for an additional 4 weeks of training in Personnel Administration. At the completion of his training period Edward was stationed at Fort Dix, NJ as a Finance Clerk. His original request was for Military Police, Rescue or electrician due to his previous civilian experience as a volunteer fire fighter and working for the family electrical business but these positions were not available so he was placed in administration for the remaining 18 months he spent in the 3rd TNG REG 3rd Battalion in Fort Dix, NJ. On November 12, 1963 he was released from active duty at which time he entered into the reserves until November 12, 1967. In April 1978 Edward entered back into the Military by joining the New Jersey National Guards as a Recovery Sergeant to Service Battery 1st BN 112th Field Artillery NJARNG 50th Armored Division and later to Battery B. Later On November 1990 he was with the 117th Maintenance Company in Bordentown NJ as a SFC Maintenance Control Officer and Technical Inspector. The 117th Maintenance was activated for a tour in Desert Storm but the conflict ended prior to their deployment so they were not sent overseas. In this battalion Edward served two three week service tours in Germany. While serving in the National Guard, Edward was a Full time Federal Technician working at Bordentown CSMSA shop within the National Guard as a heavy wheel and track vehicle inspector. Edward remained in the 117th Maintenance Company until his retirement on January 15th 1999. During his 20 year service in the National Guard Edward also worked in the Beverly/Edgewater Park Community in law enforcement, as a volunteer firefighter, a volunteer on the first aid squad and an inspector for Edgewater Park Township. His Police service began on the Beverly Police force in 1965 as a Special officer and continued protecting the community until his retirement in 2000. As a teenager, Edward began his volunteer work with the Beverly Number One Fire Department as a Junior Fireman and on the Beverly Emergency Squad. He progressed in the fire department all the way up to Chief and recently ended his tenure as Trustee and is currently a life member. He is also a life member of the Emergency Squad having volunteered with the organization for 15 years. In 1980 Edward began as the Edgewater Park Fire Inspector and Fire Marshall until 1985. Later he became Fire Sub-Code Official which he continued to perform until his retirement in 2012. Edward has been an active member of the Beverly American Legion Post 115 for 32 years. He has been the post commander for the past 10 years. As Post Commander he has worked with the members and the community to raise money for veterans, host events at local veteran retirement homes, provide scholarships for local middle school graduates and distributes Christmas baskets to the needy in the community. Edward and his wife Veronica recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 2013. They both grew up in the Edgewater Park/Beverly communities and chose to raise their family in Edgewater Park on the land that has been in Edwards’ family for generations. Edward was named Edgewater Park Citizen of the year in 2013 for all of his contributions to the community over the years as a policeman, serviceman, inspector and citizen. We thank Edward M. Gitto for his dedicated service to his country and to his community. We are pleased that he has agreed to be the 2014 Grand Marshall of the 95th Annual Memorial Day Parade. DEAR BEVERLY CITY RESIDENTS AND VISITORS Let us pause on this special day of remembrance to honor those men and women who have fought and died in our Nation's service. It is a day to remember, to reflect and to honor those who sacrificed their lives to protect and ensure our freedom. Freedom has never been free, and so we honor our fallen heroes and thank their families for their contribution to the preservation of our Nation. We pray, this day, for the safety of the men and women serving in today's Armed Forces. As Mayor of the City of Beverly, I invite all Beverly residents, and those from other communities who are with us today, to join Citizens Across America in a "National Moment of Remembrance" at exactly 3:00 p.m. today. As we reach out to family, friends and loved ones on this Memorial Day, May 26, 2014, we congratulate Ed Gitto, this year’s Memorial Day Parade Grand Marshall. We thank him for his service to his country, his courage and for being an outstanding American Patriot.