August 15, 1945, Japan surrenders…the men and women of World War II begin to make their way home; the war is officially over.

Bridesburg, Pennsylvania, the year is 1946…the men and women from a tiny River Ward community remember that all gave some, and that some gave all.  They begin to gather and brainstorm about hosting a parade to celebrate the fallen.

Bridesburg, Pennsylvania, the year is 2012…Margaret Chmielewski, called Margie or Maggie by friends, recalls the humble beginnings of the Bridesburg Memorial Day Parade.  Margie, a Veteran, served in the United States Navy.  She recalls, that upon its inception, the parade was quite small, yet the job of the first marchers was vastly important.  In her dress blues, crisp collar, shoes shining, she stood before the erected memorials of Holy Redeemer and All Saints cemeteries, pausing to reflect and give thanks, TAPS blaring from the bugle, guns saluting those who made the ultimate sacrifice for Freedom.

The United Veterans of Bridesburg is founded by residents Edward DuBeck and John “Moose” Muszynski, along with the Commanders of both the VFW Post #2, and American Legion Post #821, in the 1970’s.  This alliance enables the tradition started at the war’s end to continue.  These men and women are responsible for the success of a parade that has a life span of almost seven decades, thus giving Bridesburg’s Parade the title of Pennsylvania’s Oldest and Largest Memorial Day Parade Celebration.  As the years progressed, it was necessary to alter the parade route to allow for its rapidly expanding numbers.  It was decided that the salute and grave memorial would be moved to the Sunday before Memorial Day.  To the veterans, although they hold the parade dear, the visit to the graves is paramount.

The humble beginnings of the parade so many years ago has evolved to include hundreds of marchers ranging from the original participants like Margie Chmielewski, up to the toddlers being pulled in a Radio Flyer wagon decorated with red, white, and blue streamers.  The modern parade in Bridesburg hosts local troops of Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts of America, Philadelphia Fire Department Pipes and Drums Brigades, local high school marching bands, Bridesburg Cougars, Ancient Order of Hibernians, National Guard tanks, US Army trucks, Navy jets, ROTC members, visiting veterans from neighboring states, Police Motorcycles, Fire Trucks from our city as well as from visiting cities, Bridesburg Outboard Club, flag and baton squads, local politicians such as State Rep. John Taylor, and the Mayor of our fine city, Michael Nutter.

The tight-knit neighborhood of Bridesburg today embraces the celebration and rallies around the festivities not unlike the families of days gone by.  Traditions of porch sitting at the homes along the “parade route” are holding strong and are even selling points for local real estate brokers.  A massive grandstand is assembled at the corner of Richmond and Orthodox Streets and serves as both the starting and ending point of the beloved parade.  Tradition has it that everyone watches the parade from their favorite location and then gathers together at the grandstand for reunions with friends and loved ones who come back year after year to share in the celebration.

Due to financial hardship, it was announced in 2011 by the committee, that the parade may be discontinued.  Not to be defeated, the neighborhood’s local businesses and residents began fundraising activities to offset increasing costs to keep the parade afloat.  The Polonia Club hosted the First Annual Green Cup Keg Party just in time for St. Patrick’s Day and donated the proceeds to the Parade Committee.  The residents of Bridesburg rejoiced, as their beloved parade was able to continue without interruption.  On the coat tails of the fundraising efforts of 2011, this year, Old English Pizza ran a promotion wherein a portion of the total of your bill for lunch or dinner was donated directly to the parade fund.  Kulb Designs created an entire line of screen printed t-shirts exclusively for the parade and are donating the proceeds to help finance the parade.  The shirts are currently available for sale in their shop at 4240 Richmond Street.  The Kulb family has a porch-front spot for the first leg of the parade and is a hot spot for visitors come parade day.

Generations of families have created traditions at the parade and have memories they cherish.  They are more than happy to share, much like Edgemont Street resident, Teresa Pyott.  Pyott is an active member of the Bridesburg’s Historical Society and recalls that some of her fondest memories of the parade were when she served as Girl Scout Leader for twenty-six years and marched her girls proudly in full uniform.  She jokingly admitted to missing only one parade to give birth to her daughter, which she figured was a good excuse to miss the day.  Mrs. Pyott now enjoys the parade from the home of her granddaughter, Alison Gipson, on the back leg of the parade route on Thompson Street.

Friends and families that moved away return with renewed spirit and enthusiasm despite their new geographic locations.  Megan Verbilla Frombach says that despite her family moving away from the Burg in 1996, she has never missed a single parade in her life.  Megan is passing down the tradition she shared with her siblings, Keith, Eddie, and Rosie to her own family.  Each year on parade day, she wakes early and children Jake, Brendan, Andrew, Peter, and Maggie, clad in red, white and blue, pile in the car and head for the Betsy Ross Bridge.  When reminiscing, Megan said she gets tears in her eyes and beams with pride when the pipes and drums begin.  Megan’s absolute favorite parade was when the jet planes flew overhead – what a sight to behold!  Megan will be at Richmond and Orthodox next Monday to reunite with family and childhood friends.

John Shimp’s family has, what some residents consider, the best seat on the parade route. The original Shimp clan consists of ten children: Kathy, Karen, Julie, Robert, Maria, John, Michael, Joseph, Maureen and Mark.  Their spacious corner home is located where Richmond Street meets Kirkbride, and is a local landmark.  Come parade day, the American Flag is hoisted on their flagpole, and Mr. and Mrs. Shimp sit on the porch waiting for the family to “come home.”  Memorial Day is Mr. Shimp’s favorite day of the year, something that seems to be genetic — John recalls fondly the process of the street cleaning the eve of the parade and the following morning how the children gathered, from all sections of the Burg, excited for their hot dogs and birch beer.  John believes that parade day, “helps you forget the modern technology we encounter every day and embrace a nostalgic moment, a true piece of Americana – our parade!”  John, his wife, Carolyn, and their two children, Connor and Kelsey, will take in the parade at the home of his parents, just about halfway through the parade route.

Planning this event takes much time, effort, and of course, funding.  The brilliant minds of Ryan Osborn and Christopher Whittle collaborated and a fundraiser was born:  The Bridesburg Memorial Day 5K. Former SARS swimmer, Whittle, explains, “We can’t let the parade fail; that would mean we fail those who have served.”  The Whittle-Osborn collaboration assists the VFW and American Legion in their great task of keeping the parade running. [Pun intended].  Both Osborn and Whittle will make a cameo at Richmond and Orthodox Streets, joining family and friends.

This year, the Band, Full Circle, will play at the Post Office Café directly following the parade.  Frank DiSalvo, owner and proprietor, will offer food and drink specials all day long.  This event is family-friendly so be sure to bring the children to the parade and stay for the party!  The Post Office is located at 2696 Bridge Street.  (For those of you who fondly recall The School Boys playing from the back of the flatbed truck in the parade, members have reunited and formed Full Circle.)

If You Go:  Monday, May 28, 2012, be sure to arrive to the Burg by 9 a.m. as the streets will be closed off for the parade’s start at 10 a.m. sharp!

Traditional Parade Route:  Parade begins at 10 a.m. and begins at Richmond and Juanita Streets and marches North along Richmond Street and bears west onto Bridge Street.  Up Bridge Street and West onto Thompson Street.  Remains Southbound on Thompson until it bears East onto Orthodox Street.  From Orthodox Street straight up to Richmond Street to the Grandstand.