Lambertville Memorial Day Parade, 2025
Lambertville’s Annual Memorial Day Parade was held on Monday, May 26, 2025.
Hundreds of people gathered along Union and Main Streets to view the event, which began on North Union and Cherry Street. The sky was clear and blue. The air was crisp and comfortable. It was a perfect day to gather and reflect.
Ambulances, fire trucks, military vehicles, classic cars, marine rescue, marching bands, rescue teams, and citizens of all ages made their way along the route.
The procession headed south on Union Street and then north on Main Street.
Scouts marched, but for the first time in over 25 years, Scouting America Troop 49 (which had been in operation in Lambertville since 1933) did not march.
Due to declining enrollment, Troop 49 closed at the end of 2024. However, Kevin Brady of Cottage Hill wrote a letter (recently published in Lambertville Matters), in which he invited local residents to get involved with Lambertville Scouting.
For people who don’t work in fire services, being up close to the fire trucks is always an experience. With their intricate parts, bright lights, and bold colors, it’s almost difficult to imagine this majestic vehicle being used for emergencies.
It was nice to see the Lambertville Library on bicycles, smiling and waving, and reminding us how lucky we are to have free access to factual information.
Our local book-lending organization rode in stark contrast to the sometimes imposing, and always impressive, military machines that cruised down the road.
The juxtaposition of anonymous militarization and friendly, familiar faces was the point of the parade. It begged bystanders to think about all of the people—living and dead—who have sacrificed and served our country’s greater good.
It rouses us to stand up here and now, and fight for the freedoms we enjoy that were hard-fought and won before us. Freedoms that are once again threatened...
As the large vehicles traveled on to another parade, local marchers made their way to Mary E. Sheridan Park where there was a commemorative ceremony.
Mayor Nowick read “My Very Dear Wife,” which is the last letter of Major Sullivan Ballou, dated July 14, 1861. In the letter, the 32-year-old attorney from Providence, Rhode Island wrote a moving message to his wife and children:
“...if the soft breeze fans your cheek, it shall be my breath; or the cool air cools your throbbing temples, it shall be my spirit passing by.”
Grand Marshall, and Lambertville resident, Georg Hambach spoke. He reminded us that Memorial Day is not a happy day.
“We were there and feel a little guilty that we came home and they didn’t,” Hambach said of fellow soldiers, “They gave the last true measure of devotion.”
Then, in a solemn and quiet moment, veterans fired three very loud shots into the air. People flinched. A child cried and clung to her mother. Ears rang.
The horrendous conditions of war were alluded to in a safe, yet visceral way.
Many people—some of whom are our current neighbors—fought for our freedom of speech, free and fair elections, separation of powers, separation of church and state, our ability to question the president and/or government, for our right to assemble and protest without retribution, and to marry who we want to marry (or not). Those freedoms will never be taken away without a fight.
After the ceremony, many people went to the American Legion for lunch.
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