Letter to the Editor: Public Invited to Memorial Day Parade

Please take this opportunity to join all Trappe and Collegeville residents for an old-fashioned Memorial Day Parade on Monday, May 30, from 9 a.m. to noon to begin a yearlong celebration of the 300th birthday of Henry Melchior Muhlenberg (1711­–1787), German immigrant, patriarch of the Lutheran Church in America, and long-time Trappe resident.  The parade route will begin  at the historic Augustus Lutheran Church in Trappe and continue east along Main Street to the Waterworks Park, behind the Trappe Shopping Center.  Trappe Main Street will be closed between Augustus Lutheran Church and First Avenue from 9 a.m. to noon and detours will be in effect during that time period.

Floats, fire engines, historic cars, a brass band, historic re-enactors, local girl and boy scouts, and much more are included.  The current and anticipated order of participating units follows;

1.         VFW Honor Guard

2.         Philadelphia German Brass Band

3.         Parade Marshals – Connie Peck and Albert Stagliano, Mayors of Trappe and Collegeville, respectively (carriage driven by Matthew Wismer)

4.         Congressman Jim Gerlach

5.         Augustus Lutheran Church Float

6.         Draft Horse Wagon – Pastors Michel, Fluck and Weleck

7.         Cub Pack 119 from St. James Church

8.         St. James Circuit Ryder and Float

9.         Trappe Historical Society Float

10.     Whitehall Fife and Drum Corp

11.     The Speaker’s House Float

12.     St. Luke’s Float

13.     Community Club of Collegeville

14.     Trinity walking troop

15.     The Grange Float

16.     4H Alpacateers Club (sponsored by Little Lost Creek Alpaca Farm)

17.     Little Lost Creek Alpaca Farm

18.     The Bike Brigade

19.     Collegeville Fire Department

20.     Trappe Fire Department

A commemorative ceremony, German brass band concert, food, and family fun follow in the Waterworks Park.  This Memorial Day ceremony will honor Armed Service men and women, past and present. This will be followed by a one-half hour concert of traditional band music.  Great Memorial Day foods will be available for purchase from the Collegeville Rotary, Kona Ice and Captain Chucky’s at Waterworks Park

The parade is part of an ongoing series of events being organized by the Historic Muhlenberg Partnership, a collaborative effort of Augustus Lutheran Church, the Borough of Trappe, Historical Society of Trappe, Collegeville, Perkiomen Valley, and The Speaker’s House.  For more information and a complete list of events, visit www.hmp300.org. 

For spectators, there will be directed parking onto the grass at the park.  Friends, neighbors and visitors are encouraged to stay and enjoy the music, food, park, and to visit with old friends and especially get an up close view of the floats. The floats will be on display from 11am to 2pm and each participating organization will also be providing information on their history and mission in the community.

A rain date had originally been advertised, however, the parade committee has made a determination that the parade will proceed on Memorial Day, May 30, rain or shine.  In the event of severely inclement weather, the event may be cancelled.  For information regarding the status of the parade on Memorial Day, visit www.hmp300.org or call 484-902-8340.

Submitted by:
Don Tobias
Trustee
The Speaker's House