By Tim Hawk
Galloway Township held its Fourth of July Parade last Tuesday morning as thousands of people lined the parade route for the approximately two hour celebration that honored our nation’s veterans and active military personnel.
The festivities started early as preferred viewing locations along the route were taken up about an hour before the 9 a.m. start.
The Country Cruisers Motorcycle Group and Rolling Thunder Chapter 4 were the first out of the Smithville Square Shopping Center, which served as the staging area for the parade participants — approximately 170 according to parade organizers.
Following the roar of the motorcycles were members of the Cape Atlantic Marine Corps League, the American Legion, and the Four Season Veterans, who received a standing ovation as they walked by the rows of patriotic-dressed spectators lined along Smithville Boulevard.
Other participants included Jim Eberwine, the parade grand marshal, the Absegami High School Marching Band, the staff of the Smithville Inn and Fred & Ethel’s, and plenty of fire trucks and first responder vehicles with horns and sirens wailing that had many covering their ears.
A special moment in the parade was when a Vietnam War Reflections float from the Jersey Shore Baptist Church float passed by which depicted a reenactment scene on one side of a replica Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall and a scene of honor on the other.
The parade ended shortly before 11 a.m. on Moss Mill Road in front of Historic Smithville.
Tim Hawk has been a photojournalist for more than 30 years, covering South Jersey and the Jersey Shore. He is also an adjunct professor at Rowan University he teaches photojournalism.
