Runnemede Veterans Parade a Success | cnbnews.net
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
By Chris Concannon
Gloucester City News
Hundreds of onlookers and participants alike gathered for the inaugural Veterans Welcome Home Parade June 23 in Glendora and Runnemede.
As first-time events go, organizers were concerned as to how the event would be received as it fell right between both the Memorial Day and Fourth of July holidays.
They were met with not only scores of spectators dotting the sidelines along the Black Horse Pike, but a nearly cloudless, warm early summer breeze for the event.
Several VFW’s and American Legion groups took part in the parade, including VFW’s 7410 and 9563 from Bellmawr, along with their Runnemede, Glendora, Blackwood and Verga (West Deptford) comrades.
Outgoing State VFW Commander Earl Courter, of Gloucester City VFW Post 3620, was among those making opening remarks at the post-parade reception and barbecue.
The Warriors Watch motorcycle group, who has famously welcomed home veterans at Philadelphia International Airport, led the procession north along the Pike, beginning at the Glendora War Memorial.
Other marching units included the Military Support Group of New Jersey, which was also part of the organizing committee, along with the Southern New Jersey Chapter (Division 3) of the Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH), and Camden County Emerald Society Police and Fire Pipes and Drums, led by Drum Major Rich Desmond.
Among area political dignitaries on hand, was State Assemblyman Gilbert “Whip” Wilson (D-5), himself a Vietnam Veteran, who remarked that he felt it was an outstanding event.
“It was an honor to be invited, as I came out today as a veteran, not a politician,” Wilson said.
As the parade wound into its finish at Constitution Avenue and the Pike in Runnemede, the official program began, with the Pledge of Allegiance, National Anthem, and 21-gun salute.
The Camden Riversharks sent their mascot, Finley to the event, and he handed out free ticket vouchers to all who participated in the parade.
LTC Al Bancroft (USMC, retired) of the Office of Veteran’s Affairs, served as Master of Ceremonies and expressed his pride in his country, from when he was a boy, through his enlistment in the Marine Corps and service in the Vietnam War, to present day.
His compatriot in the Veteran’s Affairs Office, retired Col. John Rawley (U.S. Army Green Beret), was also on hand. Not even recent quadruple bypass surgery could keep the former Green Beret from taking part in the first-ever event of its kind in this area.
In prior weeks, Bucceroni noted, that the idea to hold the parade was a way to thank all returning veterans, as well as to thank all veterans past and present, from all branches.
As he was handing out programs at the beginning of the reception and barbecue, he could be heard adding, “I think we have a hit.”
Organizers will certainly be making plans for next year’s parade, and those dates and times will be released as soon as they become available.
Organizers would like to thank the following sponsors, for their generous donation of time, volunteers and financial support:
Acre Mortgage & Financial, Aversa’s Flowers, Bellmawr Rotary, Bell-mawr VFW (7410 and 9563), Blue Sky Power, LLC, Bowman and Company Engineers, the Camden Riversharks, Cherry Hill Triplex, Cisco Foods, CompServices Inc., Connor, Strong and Buckelew, Coppola Pizzeria, Dietz and Watson, Garrison Architects, Glendora Rotary, Gloucester Township Rotary, the Home Depot (Deptford), Remington and Vernick Engineers, Rothman Institute, Runnemede PTA, Runnemede Toyota-Scion, United Building Trades Council of Southern New Jersey, the U.S.O. and Wawa of Runnemede.
