LAKEHURST – Lacey has its Christmas Parade, Toms River hosts the biggest Halloween Parade in the state, but the borough is the place to be on Independence Day.
Like a slice of Americana on a pleasant summer day, hundreds of people flocked to Union Avenue throughout the day to enjoy the annual parade, enjoy a delicious cheeseburger at the local Girl Scout Troop table, cool off with a glass of free lemonade or root beer float and a cookie or two from the Lakehurst Presbyterian Church and take a chance at one of the many gift baskets inside the Lakehurst Elementary School gymnasium.
There were vintage cars galore spread across Union Avenue, some side streets and in the school field and most attendees were sporting shades of red, white and blue.
That was clearly the case for Alessandra and Craig MacFarlane. “This is our first Fourth of July here,” Alessandra said. “We live up north but my parents live here,” her husband added. They were enjoying the parade with their 8-month-old daughter Viviana.
Members of the Fleet Reserve 124 were seated in their float along the lineup for the parade awaiting the signal that the parade would start.
The borough organization is based on Union Avenue and those not on the float were parked in front of their headquarters in chairs ready to wave at their fellow members.
Other spectators were lining up early on both sides of the streets, some carrying pinwheels and others small American flags. This was the day to celebrate America’s 249
th
birthday.
The Borough Police Department led the parade, followed by numerous first responders, like Whiting Volunteer Fire Company, Dive Team 3317, Manchester Fire Company No. 1, and Emergency Squad 13. The Ridgeway Fire No. 1 in Manchester have black and white vehicles that stood out and Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst brought their red Fire Base 54 truck.
“You could be anywhere but you are here in Lakehurst Borough just hanging out with the cars and the crowd, walking and talking and having a great, great time on July 4, the nation’s birthday. We’re bringing you as they say, cars, girls and rock and roll,” a DJ from Uncle Leo’s remarked after the parade in the school athletic field filled with cars. The gift auction and Lakehurst Museum Table were tucked inside the gym enjoying some cooler temperatures.
Kathy Abramhamsen joined members of the Lakehurst Historical Society including President/Councilwoman Bernadette Dugan at their table.
“We’re doing really great and the weather is perfect. Our gift auction is well underway and this is a large part of our fundraiser so we invite everyone to come inside as it is cooler and more comfortable and people can shop around (at the vendors). We’ve been doing this for many, many years, “ Abramhamsen who served as a committee chair for the event remarked.
“If it wasn’t for Heather and Kathy between our chili cookoff and car show I don’t know what we’d do,” Dugan said.
“We have many sponsors for the show and gift baskets,” Abramhamsen said. She also noted the work of Jill Trotta who coordinated the car show.
Trotta said, “it is an awesome turnout and a beautiful day. The committee did an awesome job. We have a good committee that helps us out. We have five of us. Myself, Ron Lane Sr. Megan and Bill Siebert and Jim Davis. That is who put the car show on.”
The show sported a large number of trophies that were presented later in the day for a variety of categories.
Steven Baker, another member of the Historical Society was helping out during the day dressed in a Superman shirt and pants with Superman socks capped off with a Superman hat. After all, Superman is known for fighting for truth, justice and the American way and Baker is looking forward to seeing the new “Superman” film that was released this week.
“I’ll be there on opening day,” he said. He plans to see it with friends.
Several chief petty officers from the Joint Base volunteered to help out the society as well this year according to another member of the organization.
