Franklin Lakes’ First Memorial Day Parade   

BY

Jack Goudsward

 

 

     The tradition of the Franklin Lakes Memorial Day Parade started soon after America entered World War II. Prior to that a special ceremony was held at the Masker Memorial then located in Crystal Lake Section of Franklin Lakes. Zachary Masker was the only resident to lose his life in World War 1. After the ceremony concluded the participants would leave for the Wyckoff parade.

      The First Memorial Day Parade was held May 30, 1942. Its inception was under the auspices of the Borough Officials and honored not only Zachary Masker but all World War 1 Veterans and those who were now in World War 2 service with the dedication of the Towns’ Service Flag. 

       The parade formed up in front of the then Town Hall, now the Board of Education Building, and was said to have been the largest parade in the town to that time. As the march stepped off the order of march was as follows Police Department Flags, Mayor Bowers and Council Members, Campgaw Music School led by Miss. Weisshuch, Franklin Lakes School Board, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Jr. O.V.A.M. P.T.A., Church Organizations, Rain Bow Garden Club, Civilian Defense Council, Hawthorne Band, American Legion, Wyckoff Firemen, Oakland Firemen and the Campgaw Firemen.

     The parade started at 9 A.M. and proceeded along Pulis Ave. Then turning on to Franklin Ave and then down Colonial Road to High Mountain Road and the Masker Memorial. The parade today still follows part of this original route. At the Masker Memorial the Invocation was given by Rev, Harry Goodrich. He was the Pastor of the Franklin Lakes Methodist Church. This was followed by the “Massing of the Colors,” as the “National Anthem” was played by the Horthorne Band.

     Next the Borough “Service Flag” was brought forward. The town had ordered this flag and at the time of the dedication it contained twenty two stars. Each star represented a service man from town. This flag would later fly over the towns’ “Roll Of Honor” located next to the then Town Hall.

     Mayors Bowers received the flag and said in part “This is a Service Flag and a Memorial.  Each star represents one of the citizens of the borough who is serving in the armed forces of this country in this war.”

       “As your Mayor I have been selected to dedicate it and present it to the citizens of the borough. I dedicate it to service. When we look at it may we always remember that we too must serve”.

       “Just as we, without our armed forces, would be helpless against our enemies-so our armed forces cannot possibly win this war without the enthusiastic and wholehearted support of the civil population of our country”.

         “All reports reaching us show that the moral of our armed forces is extremely high. Let us as private citizens, keep our morale equally high. Let us have no doubts, no complaining and no fears. Let us give all if necessary to bring victory to our beloved land.”

        “I present this flag to all the citizens of the borough. May it be their symbol of their dedication to the service of the Untied States of America and may God add his blessing to their service”.   

      After the dedication floral Tributes were placed at the base of the Masker Memorial. This was led by Mrs. Israel, sister of Zachary Masker. Other tributes were placed by Mrs. Harry Snyder representing the Wyckoff American Legion Auxiliary nd Mrs. H.J. Payne representing the Rain Bow Garden Club.  

     Band music preceded the Rifle Squad Salute and the sounding of “Taps”. The ceremony concluded with a Benediction by Rev. Goodrich.

   

 

FIGURE 1:

NAMES OF SERVICE PERSONAL ON SERVICE FLAG

 

 

                                Terrance Melville                                                          Albert Ernest Melville

                                John O’Donnell                                                             James O’Donnell

                                Edward Gorman                                                        William E. Blauvelt

                                Theodore Van Itallie                                                 Kurt Roehrs Jr.

                                Joseph Rego                                                                   Robert Knight

                                Robert W. Brousseau                                               Melvin Hopper

                                Theodore Weidanz                                                   David J. Vervaet

                                Robert Tilton                                                                      Curtis Thompson

                                Charles Winters                                                              John Deurloo

                                Joseph Van Dyke                                                       Albert Cosgrove

                                William Cosgrove                                                         Curt Lechler

 

FIGURE 2:

A COPY OF THE ORIGINAL PROGRAM

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FIGURE: 3

FRANKLIN LAKES ROLL OF HONOR

 

 

 

Franklin Lakes Roll of Honor with the Service flag above it.

 

 

REFERENCES

 

Wyckoff News     May 25, 1939

Wyckoff News     April 2, 1942

Wyckoff News     May 28, 1942

Wyckoff News     June 11, 1942

 

Paterson News     May 4, 1942