Huber Street Elementary School student Chloe Liptai, 6, comes to Secaucus’ Memorial Day parade every year to see her grandmother Ebelyn Bonyn walk in the parade. Bonyn is the President of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. After the parade, Bonyn said, “This is a great town. The mayor is great, and aren’t our parks nice?”
Liptai collected candy and small American flags off oncoming floats. She waved at her friends who walked in the parade as well.
Every year Olivia Abes comes to watch her grandchildren walk in the parade, she said. Kim, 12, goes to Huber Street School, and Kyle De los Santos, 14, goes to Secaucus Middle School. Abes sat near the street with another granddaughter, Kate, 6. “We come every year, because it’s fun to watch the parade,” Abes said.
Parade onlooker Lisa Marie Vanes and her beagle Lucy have lived in Secaucus their entire lives. Vanes is a preschool special education teacher at the Huber Street Early Learning Center.
“I come every year. It’s a family tradition.” — Lisa Marie Vanes
____________
Many different veterans, companies, and programs took part in the parade. Rows of veterans sat atop floats covered with red, white, and blue, with their names.
The vets threw candy or had volunteers walk off the floats to hand out small American flags. The Secaucus Fire Departments waved from their new fire truck. Bands and dancers walked down the street.
Participants and viewers then enjoyed food and music after the parade at a block BBQ on Second Street.
Samantha Meyers can be reached at samantham@hudsonreporter.com .