Monmouth + Ocean Memorial Day Weekend Events

There are tons of ways to enjoy the unofficial start to the Summer of 2014 and honor the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. Here's what's going down in Monmouth and Ocean.

MONMOUTH

Saturday May 24th:

ENGLISHTOWN: 8 a.m. Old Bridge Township Raceway Park, 230 Pension Road. The Motorcycle Charity Ride is hosted by the Manalapan PBA 229 and Old Bridge Township Raceway Park and will be in honor of all of the veterans who have served in the Vietnam War. The motorcycle ride will leave from Raceway Park and proceed through rural parts of Manalapan, Millstone, Marlboro and end at the Vietnam War Memorial in Holmdel.

HIGHLANDS: 1 p.m. Huddy Park, Corner of Waterwitch and Shore Drive. The Highlands Memorial Day Parade will begin at Huddy Park at noon for check-in. All groups wishing to participate in the parade must contact Christine Franklin at the American Legion. We encourage all groups to participate. Contact: 732-872-2350.

UNION BEACH: 11 a.m. Florence and Front Street. Beachfront War Memorial wreath-laying ceremony at 11 a.m. at Florence and Front Street. At noon, there will be a Memorial Day Parade line-up at Borough Hall (Poole Avenue and Stone Road). Parade will begin at 1 p.m. from Poole Avenue to Florence Avenue to Front Street to Union Avenue and finishing at the Union Beach Memorial Library (Union Avenue and Jersey Avenue), where seven bands, a WWII re-enactment Group, WWII military vehicles, classic cars, Little League, soccer, Hazlet Thunderettes, Keyport Explorers, Keyport Raritan Post 23 Color Guard, Union Beach and Keyport Boy Scouts, Troop 134, Girl Scouts, Brownies, Cub Scouts, Keyport Pop Warner football, and elected officials from local, county, state and federal will be present. Rain date is May 31. Cost: Free; contact: 732-620-2339.

Sunday May 25th

MATAWAN: 2 p.m. St. Clements Roman Catholic Church, 172 Freneau Ave. The borough will be holding its annual Memorial Day Parade. The parade begins at the St. Clement Church parking lot at 2 p.m. and marches along Main Street ending at Memorial Park where there will be a brief ceremony. This is a family-friendly event. All members of the community are invited to line the parade route to salute those who have made the supreme sacrifice for our country. Contact: 732-566-3898, ext. 130.

Monday May 26th

ALLENTOWN: 10 a.m. Corner of North Main Street and Allen Drive. Staging for the participants will begin at 8:30 a.m. on North Main Street and in the area between Allen and Probasco Drive. Parade begins at 10 a.m. at the corner of North Main Street and Allen Drive, proceeding south through the center of the borough, across the Conine Millpond Bridge turning onto High Street, and finish at the Upper Freehold Regional Elementary-Middle School. Grand Marshal Bob O’Hare will lead the 2014 Memorial Day Parade. The parade will be followed by a memorial service featuring a salute by members of American Legion Post 31’s Honor Guard and the Civil Air Patrol, Squadron NJ 082, Color Guard, led by its commander, Lt. Mary Lenner. Members of the Civil Air Patrol, will demonstrate the folding of the American flag and its presentation in honor of those who gave their lives in service to our country. Patriotic selections and Taps will be performed by the Allentown High School, Redbird Marching Band, directed by Ross Hecht. The service will take place at the memorial monument near the upper entrance to the school. Contact: 732-699-4265.

ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS: 11 a.m. Atlantic Highlands Municipal Harbor, 2 Simon Lake Drive. American Legion 141 will begin their parade at Municipal Harbor, travel to Veteran’s Park, where there will be a ceremony in front of Borough Hall. Afterward, there will be refreshments at the Emergency Service building on East Mount Avenue. Contact: 732-291-1444.

BELMAR: 9:30 a.m. Monument Row, Main Street between 12th and 13th avenues. The borough will hold one of its Memorial Day services at Monument Row. Afterward, head on over to the Doughboy Statue at 8th and Railroad for another ceremony at 10 a.m. Contact: 732-681-3700.

BRADLEY BEACH: 9 a.m. to noon. Bradley Beach Fire Hall, 815 Main St. Admission includes all-you-can-eat pancakes, and a serving of sides, beverages and more. Hosted by their Ladies Auxiliary, all proceeds benefit the volunteers of the Bradley Beach Fire Department. Cost: $8 adults; $3 children 3-12; free for children under 3; contact: 732-776-7887.

COLTS NECK: 10 a.m. First Aid Building, 1 Heritage Way. Memorial Day starts off with a bicycle contest at the Colts Neck First Aid Building. At 10:30 a.m., there will be a Memorial Day parade and ceremony, starting at Heyers Mills Road and ending at Memorial Park for the ceremony. Immediately following, there will be refreshments, face painting, music and more at Colts Neck Fire House 2 (Conover Road). Contact: 732-780-6666.

EATONTOWN: 10:30 a.m. Veterans’ Plaza, Wampum Park, Route 35 and West Street. On behalf of the Holmgren-Gurbisz Memorial American Legion Post 325, the annual Memorial Day ceremony will be held. This is an opportunity, as a community, to come together and honor those who served our country and paid the ultimate price for the freedom we all enjoy today. The mayor and Borough Council, police department, and Office of Emergency Management will attend and present a floral tribute as well. In the event of rain, the ceremonies will take place at the Eatontown Memorial School on Grant Avenue. Contact: 732-455-8525.

FAIR HAVEN MEMORIAL DAY PARADE: 9 to 11 a.m. Knollwood Public School, 224 Hance Road. The borough will hold its annual Memorial Day Parade. Parade starts at Knollwood School and ends at Memorial Park where there will be a small ceremony. Contact: 732-747-0241.

FARMINGDALE: 1 p.m. Main Street, Farmingdale. The borough will be hold its annual Memorial Day Parade. There will be live bands, such as the Christian Brother’s Academy Pipes and Drums and Howell High School Marching Rebels. The parade will be held rain or shine. Cost: free; contact: 732-938-4077.

FREEHOLD: 8:30 a.m. Elks Point, Routes 79 and 537. A ceremony will take place, followed with a parade down Main Street at 9:45 a.m. The parade will be preceded by a flag-draped coffin. Contact: 732-462-4580.

HOLMDEL: 10:30 a.m. Town Hall-Memorial Circle, 4 Crawfords Corner Road. Join the Holmdel Recreation Office as they honor those who have served in all wars. The ceremony will be held at the Memorial Circle in front of Town Hall. All are invited to attend. Refreshments will be served. Cost: free; contact: 732-946-2820, ext. 1225.

HOLMDEL: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. New Jersey Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Foundation, 1 Memorial Lane. Ceremony includes keynote speaker retired Maj. Gen. Clark Martin, a presentation of two scholarships to high school seniors and the induction of four Vietnam War veterans into the “In Memory” program. Contact: 732-335-0033.

MONMOUTH BEACH: 10 a.m. Behind the Monmouth Beach Firehouse, 24 Beach Road. Monmouth Beach observance will include patriotic music by school band, guest speaker Lt. Col. Charles Long, commanding officer, 6th Motor Transport Battalion, Red Bank. The Color Guard also will accompany the Lt. Col. At the conclusion of the service, attendees are asked to proceed across the street to the Wells Fargo bank where the Monmouth Beach Veterans Association will unveil an updated list of veterans from Monmouth Beach. At the conclusion, refreshments will be served by the Monmouth Beach Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary. Contact: 732-229-2204.

NEPTUNE CITY: 10 to 11 a.m. Knights of Columbus, 203 W. Sylvania Ave. Parade will line up at 9:30 a.m. at the Knights of Columbus. Contact: 732-776-7224.

NEPTUNE TOWNSHIP: 10 a.m. Neptune Municipal Complex, 301 Main St. Parade begins at 10 a.m. from the Municipal Complex and ends at the Great Auditorium. Services will be held in front of the Youth Temple. Mayor Dr. Michael Brantley and guest speaker Cmdr. Tommy Atkins will address the crowd. Atkins is the Senior Naval Science Instructor at Neptune High School. Refreshments will be served after the parade at the American Legion Post 346, 21 Gully Road. Contact: 732-502-4510.

OCEANPORT: 9:30 a.m. Blackberry Bay Park, 430 Port Au Peck Ave. Oceanport’s annual Memorial Day Parade kicks off at 9:30 a.m. from Blackberry Bay Park ending at the old Borough Hall, 222 Monmouth Blvd., where ceremonies and a speaker will take place. Contact: 732-222-8221.

OCEAN TOWNSHIP: 11 a.m. to noon. Ocean Township Town Hall, 399 Monmouth Road. The township will have its annual Memorial Day ceremony at Town Hall. All are welcome. Contact: 732-531-5000.

RED BANK: 11 a.m. Veterans’ Monument, 51 Monmouth St. The borough and the Red Bank Elks invite the public to attend its annual Memorial Day service. Please come to honor those who have served to protect our country. Contact: 732-530-2782.

SHREWSBURY BOROUGH: 10 a.m. Patriot Isle, Corner of Sycamore Avenue and Broad Street. We will have a community ceremony to honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation. The Shrewsbury Borough School Band will play patriotic selections which will be followed by the winners of the student essay/poem contest reading their winning entries on “What Memorial Day Means to Me.” There also will be a wreath and flag ceremony along with a gun salute. Contact: 732-741-4200, ext. 108.

TINTON FALLS: 11 a.m. Sycamore Recreation Complex, 977 Sycamore Ave. Join us as Mayor Gerald M. Turning welcomes guest speaker Lt. Cmdr. Aubrey Hamlett, executive officer of Naval Weapons Station Earle. This is a family-friendly event. Please bring a chair. Contact: 732-542-3400.

WALL TOWNSHIP: 10 a.m. Court Yard, Wall Township Municipal Building, 2700 Allaire Road. The township will host a Memorial Day ceremony in the Municipal Court yard. Contact: 732-449-8444.

OCEAN COUNTY

Friday May 23rd

TOMS RIVER: 11 a.m. Carefree Clubhouse, 98 Bananier Drive. VFW Post 10185 Commander James Egan, the Colorguard, Post members and their wives will be attending the 20th annual Ocean County Deceased Veterans Memorial Service. A luncheon will follow at the conclusion of the service. All veteran organizations and the public are invited to attend. Contact: 732-349-1050.

Saturday May 24th

POINT PLEASANT BEACH: 10 to 11 a.m. Lincoln Avenue and Woodland Road, Point Pleasant Beach. Join the borough as they celebrate the annual Bike Parade. The parade starts in the parking lot across from the Elks between Lincoln Avenue and Woodland Road and proceeds to Little Silver Lake. Rain date is 10 to 11 a.m. Monday. Contact: 732-892-1118.

Sunday May 25th

POINT PLEASANT: 1 p.m. Community Park, Bridge Avenue. The elementary school, high school and middle school band and choir will be performing, along with a gun salute by the VFW Post 4715. Veterans in attendance and will be honored. Bring a flag. Contact: 732-892-3434.

Monday May 26th

JACKSON: 10 a.m. Jackson Memorial High School, 101 Don Connor Blvd. The Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 4703 of Jackson will host its annual Memorial Day Parade and memorial services, sponsored by the Jackson Township Policemen’s Benevolent Association Local 168. Parade lineup will start at 9 a.m. at the Jackson Memorial High School on Don Connor Boulevard and will begin at 10 a.m. Memorial services will take place at the monument in the Jackson Municipal Justice Complex immediately following the parade. There will be a marching unit, float and/or the placing of flowers at the monument. Following the parade and memorial services, a picnic with hamburgers, hot dogs and refreshments will be served at the VFW Post, 54 Magnolia Dr. Contact: 732-928-1111.

LAKEHURST: 1 p.m. Lake Horicon Park, Corner of Union Avenue and Lake Street. The borough will host a Memorial Day ceremony at Lake Horicon Park. Sponsored by Fleet Reserve Association Branch 124 Inc. Contact: 732-657-4141.

LAKEWOOD: 10 to 11 a.m. Clifton Avenue. Parade starts at Clifton Avenue traveling to the All Wars Memorial Amphitheater on Lake Carasaljo, where there will be a small ceremony. Contact: 732-364-2500.

LAVALLETTE: 11 a.m. Memorial Park, Bay Boulevard and Brooklyn Avenue. Join the borough as they honor those who have given their all for our freedom. Contact: 732-793-7477.