Memorial Day in Metuchen 2008

Looking for the 2009 Metuchen Memorial Day slide show?
Turn up the sound and
click here.



Below, pictures from the 2008 event…

Memorial Day in Metuchen
is dedicated to the honor and support
of United States service personnel,
past and present,
especially those in harm’s way.

Click the picture above, or click here, for a slide show from the 2008 Metuchen Memorial Day parade and ceremony. Turn up the sound! When the show is finished, it will jump back here where you can leave a comment showing support for the troops, and thanking the parade committee. They did an excellent job!

I challenged myself this year to think of ways to capture the full spirit of Memorial Day in small-town America. Above, the names of New Jersey residents who died in the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, are displayed at Freedom Plaza. According to memorials here, a Revolutionary War battle was fought in the area as well.

In my attempt to capture that Memorial Day spirit, I got out really early and walked around town, ending up in the old Colonial Cemetery where new flags had been placed by the tombstones of Revolutionary and Civil War soldiers. I also noticed the addition of a beautiful new memorial marking the cornerstones where the first Metuchen Meetinghouse was constructed in 1717.

Children young and old were decorating bikes all over town.
That’s Justin Manley, above. Justin is running for Borough Council and was helping children with their bikes. I used those shots, plus pre-parade shots of scouts, as the slide show introduction. So many children are involved in the Memorial Day events here, that I thought it was a realistic segue into the images of troops and veterans. It is my hope that we teach our children to appreciate the sacrifices that have been made for our freedom, including the freedom of a democratic process of elections.

I love this shot of the Metuchen High School band.

It was a beautiful day, yet difficult for shooting because of the full sun. I sought a few shady spots to get lots of variety in my pictures.

I love this one!

A float in the parade listed the names of troops who have died in Afghanistan and Iraq. That can’t have been an easy float to make.

Cdr. John A. Rizzuto, left, watched last year’s Memorial Day slide show while on duty in Afghanistan with the U.S. Naval Reserve. I still have the email he sent telling me how meaningful it was for the troops to witness small-town-America from afar. Welcome home, John. We’re all glad you are safe!

Capt. Frederic Primich, of the U.S. Naval Reserve, was the Reviewing Officer and speaker at the ceremony.

Girl scouts were putting flowers on all the memorials at Memorial Park. As a mom, I can hear my mom-voice freaking out thinking, “Don’t get in front of the procession!” But my photographer-voice was jumping for joy. Photographers LIVE for photographs that tell a story. This one is a story of juxtaposition, and a moment that wouldn’t happen on any other day.

The flag-folding ceremony always makes me cry.

Youth in the Lincoln High School JROTC have participated in the Metuchen parade for years. Their dedication to their organization is obvious and I applaud them for setting a high standard for leadership and commitment.

The Metuchen Memorial Day slide show would not be the same without this face.

There were a lot of dogs in this year’s parade, escorted by members of the Metuchen Environmental Commission. This particular puppy was hanging out at the American Legion Hall after the ceremony. When I was taking the picture, the owner was saying, “It’s ok, he won’t eat your camera; he just ate 5 hot dogs.” Thus, I was not afraid!

Vietnam veterans salute their fallen comrades with the playing of Taps, following by the sacrificial pouring out of their beer.

There are a few pictures included in this year’s slide show that I took in the evening at Cloverleaf Memorial Cemetery in Woodbridge. It was an interesting way to end my Memorial Day — all alone in a cemetery. The wind was blowing thousands of little American flags by the gravestones, giving the grounds an eery sense of life, and the reality of the thousands of lives lost. I went there on the advice of one of the veterans at the parade. Thanks for sending me there. It really was beautiful.

I love how those Cloverleaf pictures add a sense of drama to the end of the slide show.

Memorial Day is a highlight of living in Metuchen. Presented by the Metuchen Area Chamber of Commerce, the parade and ceremony requires many volunteers and many hours of work in preparation.

If you have a moment, please leave a comment below thanking veterans and their families for all they have sacrificed for our country. And be sure to thank the Memorial Day Parade Committee for all their hard work!

May God grant us peace and protect our troops,
~julie

This entry was posted on Thursday, May 29th, 2008 at 5:30 pm and is filed under memorial day, metuchen and tagged with memorial day, metuchen, tommy's pond. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.

32 Responses to “Memorial Day in Metuchen 2008”

1. Gina Gibbins says:

   May 31, 2008 at 2:48 am

   My mom sent me your link because I used to live in Metuchen but now live in England. This is beautiful, and truly captures the spirit of not only Memorial Day, but of Metuchen. Thank you for doing this, it made me feel like I was there, even though I wasn’t.

   Reply
2. Audrey Hausser says:

   May 31, 2008 at 12:01 am

   The slide show presentation was beautifully done!
   I watched it with my three girls Erin (8), Lauren(6) and Sarah (2).

   Your pictures captured the special moments of what Memorial Day is all about.

   God Bless!

   Audrey

   Reply
3. Tina DiSano says:

   May 30, 2008 at 9:52 pm

   Excellent work Julie as usual you have captured the spirit of all. Love it!

   Tina

   Reply
4. laura chiusano says:

   May 30, 2008 at 8:45 pm

   Julie:
   I always look forward to your slideshows. I have never once attended a parade as a spectator; I have always been a participant. It gives me tremendous pride to acknowledge, thank and support our past and current troops. We are grateful we live in a small community where our children are continuosly involved and grateful to those who protect our country. Superb work and thankyou for sharing the parade with those of us who do not get to view it. We continue to pray for the safe return of all our troops and extend our heartfelt thanks to the soldiers and their families for keeping our families safe.

   Reply
5. Anna Rice says:

   May 30, 2008 at 7:09 pm

   Thank you, Julie. I was not able to make this year’s parade so I really appreciate your photos. It is such a pleasure to be able to sit and watch the many meaningful pictures you take to share with us. It makes us proud to live in Metuchen where the patriotic spirit is alive and well. God bless our troops and may they know that they are always in our thoughts and prayers.

   Anna

   Reply
6. Beth Gallagher says:

   May 30, 2008 at 3:23 pm

   Halfway around the world, you made me so proud to be from America. Thank you for your vision… you are an incredible artist, and how lucky for those around you that you care enough to make us all care, too. Truly beautiful!

   Reply
7. carolyn says:

   May 30, 2008 at 2:26 pm

   Wow! The photos are incredible and really capture the sincerity of the people marching in the parade. We all support our troops and pray for a safe return.

   Reply
8. MIke Porcaro says:

   May 30, 2008 at 1:50 pm

   Great job Julie! Is there any way to get copies of some of the photos? I am in two of them with my dog and a friend of mine is in another.
   Thanks

   Reply
9. Alison Soto says:

   May 30, 2008 at 7:55 am

   Another great slideshow. We were sorry to miss the parade this year. Keep up the wonderful work, Julie!

   And thanks for taking such great pics of my mother in law and neices!

   Reply
10. Anne says:

    May 30, 2008 at 5:49 am

    Thank you so much! THe photos and the music are beautiful and convey so much. Sometimes the parade passed by so quickly – it’s great to see moments frozen in time – to savor, to enjoy, to ponder and to pray.

    Reply
11. Matt Strickland says:

    May 29, 2008 at 11:10 pm

    Hello,

    My name is Matthew Strickland, I am the Junior Firefighter who is holding the ax in one of your pictures. The Memorial Day Parade is the last place I will wear the Junior Firefighter uniform as I am being appointed to the Metuchen Fire Department at the next Town Council meeting. I must say that is a really great picture.

    Good work,
    Matt Strickland

    [Hi Matt -- Julie here -- WOW! Congratulations! That's an awesome picture, and knowing the story behind it makes it even better! Thanks! -- jws]

    Reply
12. Jan Margolis says:

    May 29, 2008 at 10:13 pm

    Julie- You captured our thoughts, our feelings and our sadness. You also captured the optimisim of this great country – as refected in a wonderful town called Metuchen. And you made me cry. Bless you, dear friend. Thank you.

    Reply
13. michelle says:

    May 29, 2008 at 9:37 pm

    I love Metuchen and the Memorial Day parade is one of the reasons! Thank you to all the people who make it happen, and to the veterans and families of service members.

    Thank you, Julie. The internet is a better place because of you.

    Reply
14. Steve G. says:

    May 29, 2008 at 7:58 pm

    Amazing work, Julie. While some of us may not agree with the current war in Iraq, your photographs will travel far and wide in support of the troops. Thank you and may God bless those in harm’s way.

    Reply
15. Justin Manley says:

    May 29, 2008 at 7:48 pm

    Well my friend, you have done it once again. Marvelous, fabulous, and simply wonderous. Your talent is divine and we are all a little better off because you share it with us. Thank you for the sleepless nights and tireful days you experience in order to produce this so quickly. Thanks to the Metuchen Chamber and the parade committee for presenting the annual event and using you to show us all the different perspectives. Most of all though, thank you to all of the men and women who serve and especially to those who paid the ultimate sacrfice for this nation, our freedoms and our liberty. GOD BLESS AMERICA!

    Reply