The Parade Begins at 10 a.m. on Monday, May 26th along Trappe’s Main Street
Some of the new features of this year’s Collegeville-Trappe Memorial Day parade include additional floats decorated by residents and groups, a focus on the five historic houses along the parade route, and a Community Day following the Remembrance Observance at the end of the parade. The Community Day at Waterworks Park will offer food, live music, a bouncy house, and free games for kids.
This year’s parade is on Memorial Day, Monday, May 26, 2014, and starts at 10 a.m. The theme of the parade is “Historic Heroes;” parade groups will be portraying well- or little-known military leaders through their floats and displays.
The parade route is from Augustus Lutheran Church on Seventh Ave. downhill on Main St. in Trappe to Waterworks Park. This year’s parade will be about a mile long and will be comprised of 50 groups representing our veterans, military, non-profit groups, service clubs, Boy and Girl Scouts, marching bands, decorated floats, dancers, antique vehicles, horse drawn carriages, and special brigades. Last year about 800 individuals took part in the parade and over 3,000 adults and children came out to watch along the parade route and attend the events at the park.
A number of armed forces groups will be represented along with the Gold Star Mothers, who have a son or daughter serving in the military, and the Blue Star Mothers, who have lost a son or daughter. Several motorcycle and other groups are expected to be riding in tribute to our military, including the Alliance of Bikers Aimed Toward Education, Warrior Watch and the Keystone Wooded Warriors.
Volunteers will hand out flags and programs to the spectators along the route. Children and families will enjoy giveaways from the parade participants and also at the parade’s end at Waterworks Park. Those watching the parade should bring their own lawn chairs or blankets to shady spots along Main Street in Trappe from Seventh Avenue down to First Avenue. Plenty of great viewing spots are available!
At the end of the parade, viewers should fall into the parade behind the EMS vehicle and walk to Waterworks Park for a short Memorial Day Remembrance Ceremony led by Pastor Martha Kriebel of Trinity Church and the Collegeville Ministerium—the pastors of all the churches in the Collegeville area. The Remembrance Ceremony will feature three buglers, a ceremonial flag raising, a Pledge of Allegiance to the flag, and singing of “The Star Spangled Banner” led by the Philadelphia German Brass Band, who will also perform a short concert.
Following the service, Collegeville’s Community Day will officially open featuring great music, food, tables manned by craft and local businesses, and a fun area for kids until 3 p.m.
New this year is that three of the five historic buildings along our parade route will be holding open houses as part of the parade and Community Day celebration. Holding open houses will be Augustus Lutheran Old Church, which dates back to 1743, the Keystone Grange Building, which was the original Collegeville Masonic Lodge, erected in 1849, and The Speaker’s House, which was constructed in the early 1760s. Also of note is the DeWees Tavern, constructed about 1745, and The Muhlenberg House, restored to the period of 1776.
The organizer of this year’s parade is the Collegeville Economic Development Corp. (CEDC), and the sponsor of the parade and Collegeville Day–which helps to make the day possible–is the Collegeville Office of Susquehanna Bank, located on Rt. 29 near Wawa. “Susquehanna is known for giving back to the communities it serves by funding programs which encourage proactive community and economic development,” says Rachael Morrison, CEDC Executive Director. “We greatly appreciate their support!”
The annual Collegeville-Trappe Memorial Day parade, now in its fourth year, was first organized in 2011 by Pastor Martha Kriebel and several visionary Trappe residents. Parade chairwoman Rachael Morrison and her Parade Committee have devoted countless hours to creating this must-see spectacle of bands, cars, floats, marchers and displays dedicated to showcasing our remembrance and gratitude owed to our veterans and our service men and women. Mark your calendar to attend with your family!