With Paul Mitnaul, a Lawrence Township resident who flew combat missions during World War II as one of the famed Tuskegee Airmen, serving as the parade’s grand marshal, Lawrence Township’s annual Memorial Day Parade was held this past Saturday (May 19). Various military groups, school groups, community organizations, township volunteer firefighters and religious institutions took part.

The parade was followed by the annual Memorial Day Observance held in Veterans Park. The observance was co-sponsored by American Legion Post 414, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3022, 112th Field Artillery Association and the Township of Lawrence.

The parade was originally scheduled to be held on May 26, but was moved up a week because Lawrence Township public schools will now be closed May 23, 24 and 25. Thanks to the mild winter, none of the three emergency “snow days” built into the school calendar were used. Township officials decided to hold the parade a week early because there were concerned that with schools closed many people would leave town during the actual weekend of the holiday.