The 2025 Allentown New Jersey Lions Memorial Day Parade will be held Monday, May 26th. The Parade is rain or shine and begins at 10:30 AM. Please arrive early and remember Main Street and High Street will be closed.
The Parade Route
The parade route is ¾’s of a mile long. It begins on North Main Street (Rt. 524) at the Allen Drive exit from the staging area, heading south on Main Street through town and turning left on High Street (Rt. 539) to the Elementary School.
Parade End
At the entrance to the Elementary School on High Street, participants in the Memorial Service will be directed onto the school grounds. Drivers and passengers of vehicles taking part in the parade who would like to attend the Memorial Service may park their vehicles in the large parking area just past the Elementary School building.
Grand Marshal
Mr. Theodore Fish, 95 of Yardville, NJ, the original “Music Man” of the Allentown High School Band and music program has been named 2025 Memorial Day Grand Marshal by the Allentown Lions Club Memorial Day Parade Committee.
“The decision of who will be named Grand Marshal of the Parade is always a difficult task,” Lions Parade Chair Rob Schmitt said. “The bar is set pretty high. We look for military service, community service, a commitment to give back and other factors. Mr. Ted Fish is a bit of a legend for generations of Allentown Redbirds, a former Marine, and a man who spent his life in service to his students.”
A graduate of Reading High, Reading PA in 1947, he enlisted in the Marines and became a staff sergeant serving during the Korean War.
Mr. Fish married the love of his life, Kathryn Bickta, whom he met on a blind date. They have 3 children, Denise Fair, Jeff Fish and Craig Fish; three grandchildren, Jenna Fair, Christopher Fair and McKenzie Fish; and a great-grandbaby on the way.
Following his service in the Marines, Mr. Fish attended Lebanon Valley College on the G.I. Bill,and graduated in the Class of 1956 with a Bachelor’s Degree. This led him to becoming a music teacher at Allentown High where he started the music program in a small building with just 8 students. From those early seeds, he made it his life’s work to grow the program which eventually won regional, state, and even national awards and recognition. He dedicated 30 years of teaching as the band director and 28 years as a substitute teacher. He was honored for his contribution to Allentown High School and was inducted to the Allentown High School Hall of Fame.
Allentown Lions Club President Dan Mottram called Mr. Fish “an inspiration and the very embodiment of selfless service to others. The Lions Club motto is ‘We Serve.’ Our mission is to serve others both here in our local community and around the globe. Every year on Memorial Day, we remember those who gave the last full measure of devotion in service to our nation. We Lions task our Parade Committee to recognize a person from our community that has spent a significant part of their lives in service to others. Mr. Ted Fish spent his life and career doing just that and, so, is a great choice for 2025 Parade Grand Marshal.”
Mr. Fish expressed excitement at the unexpected honor. “It is an honor to be named this year’s Memorial Day Parade Grand Marshal,”Fish said. “I appreciate the recognition for my contribution both as a Marine Corps Veteran and as a teacher of so many generations of young people. I love Allentown, our community, and am so grateful for the wonderful memories working with my students.”
Memorial Service
Immediately after the last group finishes, a Memorial Day Service will be held near the front of the Elementary School. Everyone is invited to attend.
If rain threatens, the Memorial Service may be postponed.
Rest Rooms
A “PortaJohn” will be available in the VIP staging area on Allen Drive near the intersection with Main Street. Rest rooms are located in the Elementary School building at the end of the parade route.
Featuring:
- 2025 Grand Marshal Mr. Theodore Fish
- Active Military
- Allentown and Upper Freehold Twp. Dignitaries
- Civil Air Patrol Color Guard
- Knights of Columbus TAVI Float
- Allentown and Robbinsville High School Marching Bands
- Stonebridge Middle School Marching Band
- Ancient Order of Hibernians Bagpipe Band
- Shamrock & Thistle Bagpipe Band
- Jerry Rife’s Rhythm Kings
- Fire Departments & First Aid Squads
- Local Service Clubs & Organizations
- Shrine Crescent Temple Clowns
- Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts
- Future Farmers of America with Cavalcade of Tractors
- Little League Teams,
- 4 H Clubs
- Crescent Temple Mini Cars
- Brownies & Cub Scouts
- Monmouth Hunt Club
- Allentown Garden Club
- DJ Nebbs
- Antique Cars
- & Much More!
