Glassboro’s Memorial Day Parade

May 25, 2026 | 10am - 12pm | Downtown Glassboro

Veteran’s Memorial Plaza: 1 High St. W., Glassboro, NJ 08028

With a celebrated history that spans over a century, the Glassboro Memorial Day Parade stands as a poignant tribute to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in battle. This annual event showcases award-winning string bands, a beloved children's bike brigade, local businesses, nonprofits, and a diverse array of military veteran groups.

Following the parade, a solemn ceremony honoring Glassboro's Fallen Heroes takes place at the Veteran's Memorial Plaza in Town Square. The coordination of this significant event is a collaborative effort between the Glassboro VFW, the American Legion, Borough employees, and residents.

Road closures for the parade will be in effect starting at 7 a.m., and residents are encouraged to line the streets along the parade route. The route begins at the corner of Lehigh and University, proceeding downtown on Whitney and High Street, and concludes at Academy. Spectators are advised to park in garages or Borough parking lots near the parade route and walk to their chosen viewing location.

Grand Marshal Carl Johnson

Carl Johnson has been married to Patti Ann McGrattan-Johnson for 49 years. Together, they have two children, Corey and Kasey. He has lived in Glassboro for all 77 years of his life.

Carl grew up at 104 Union Street in Glassboro, New Jersey, as one of eleven children. His parents, Charles and Virginia Johnson, raised nine boys and two girls. He attended Academy Street School and Glassboro High School. In 1967, he decided to leave school and join the Marine Corps. On June 29, 1967, he began boot camp at Parris Island, South Carolina, and graduated on September 2, 1967, before moving on to Camp Lejeune in North Carolina for infantry training.

After four weeks, Carl was given a 10-day leave and returned home to see his family and his brother Rich, who was also on leave from the Army. Rich would soon depart for California for further training before being sent to Vietnam. Carl also went to California, to Camp Pendleton, for training in an artillery unit. After four weeks there, he was selected to attend 50-caliber Machine Gun School at Twentynine Palms, California. Following that, he attended Staging Battalion for jungle warfare training.

At that time, Carl’s unit received orders for Vietnam. Since his brother Rich had already arrived in Vietnam, Carl was exempt from deployment there and was offered duty stations elsewhere. However, after training for six months with the same group of men, he felt uneasy about staying behind while they went to war. After much deliberation, he signed a waiver allowing him to deploy with his unit.

Carl arrived in Da Nang, Vietnam, on December 18, 1967. His parents were unaware of his location, and it would be weeks before he could notify them. After a few days in Da Nang, he was convoyed to his new unit in Phu Loc, Quang Tri Province: Lima Battery, 4th Battalion, 11th Marines. This unit operated six 155 self-propelled howitzers. Carl served as a member of the six-man gun crew and as the 50-caliber machine gunner for his team.

Carl began writing to his brother Rich, urging him to consider returning home since Carl was now in Vietnam and could complete a tour. Several letters were exchanged, and plans were made to meet during in-country R&R. However, the 1968 TET offensive disrupted these plans, as fighting intensified. During this period, Carl was informed that his brother Rich had been killed on patrol on March 4, 1968. Due to the heavy fighting, attempts to notify Carl were unsuccessful until March 12th. When possible, he left Vietnam to attend his brother’s funeral. After returning, he was restricted from combat for a year and assigned to other bases, but he requested reassignment to Vietnam when he could.

In January 1970, Carl was sent back for another tour in Vietnam. At the end of that year, he returned to the United States, completed his service, and was discharged from the Marine Corps. He had attained the rank of Sergeant during his enlistment.

After leaving the Marines, Carl worked at a local mechanic shop while seeking employment with the local police force. After numerous attempts, he was hired in 1976. He served for 28 years with the Glassboro Police Department, retiring in 2004 as Sergeant First Class. During his tenure, he worked as a K-9 officer, Detective Bureau Investigator, Arson Investigator, and spent fourteen years as Patrol Supervisor.

Furthermore, he is a proud member of the South Jersey Vietnam Veterans Association and Glassboro VFW Post 679, demonstrating his unwavering commitment to serving veterans and the community at large.

New Jersey Air National Guard 177th Fighter Wing Flyover

Glassboro has requested and received approval for an Air Force Fighter Jet flyover at 10:30 a.m. The F16 jets will be flown by the New Jersey Air National Guard 177th Fighter Wing in Atlantic City and will soar over the Veteran’s Memorial Monument located in Glassboro’s Town Square at the corner of High St. and Main St. and continue over the parade route as it approaches Downtown.

Join the Parade!

Children ages 5–12 are invited to decorate their bikes with patriotic flair and join the Glassboro Memorial Day Parade. This fun and festive tradition is a great way for kids to celebrate, show their creativity, and be part of a meaningful community event honoring those who have served. There’s no registration or fee—just bring your decorated bike, wear your helmet, and ride along! Parents must accompany children throughout the parade route. Join us for a morning of community pride, remembrance, and fun in Downtown Glassboro.

Glassboro Memorial Day Parade Solemn Ceremony

Ceremony Keynote Speaker: Colonel Daniel Hilferty

The Borough of Glassboro invites residents and community members to attend the Solemn Ceremony as we honor the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our nation.

We are honored to announce that Colonel Daniel J. Hilferty, Deputy Commander of the 621st Contingency Response Wing at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, will serve as the keynote speaker for this year’s solemn ceremony. Colonel Hilferty is a command pilot with more than 3,900 flying hours, including over 1,500 combat hours supporting Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, Freedom’s Sentinel, and Resolute Support.

The 621st Contingency Response Wing is the nation’s only Contingency Response Wing, specializing in rapidly deploying Airmen worldwide to open airfields, coordinate mobility operations, and support humanitarian and contingency missions across the globe.

Join us as our community comes together in remembrance, reflection, and gratitude for the courageous service members who gave their lives defending our freedoms