Local News
Port Jervis will host one of America’s longest standing parades, with the kickoff on July 11th of Port Jervis Fire Department’s Annual Inspection Day Parade. This year’s parade will feature three Co-Grand Marshals, Ray Harding (age 96), Michael Trotta (age 91) and Tom Boland (age 78), with a combined firefighting service of 205 years—Harding with 75 years, Trotta with 70 years, and Boland with 60 years.
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| PJFD's Neversink Engine Co. No. 1 in a 1952 NJ State Parade. This year's PJFD parade Co-Grand Marshal Ray Harding was serving his last year as captain as he and his company marched in the pictured parade. |
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| Neversink Eng. Co. 1 is pictured marching in a Honesdale, PA parade in 1912. Fred C. Harding (then foreman of his company, also father of this year's 96-year old Co-Grand Marshal and past PJFD Chief Ray Harding) is pictured far right with trumpet. |
Longtime PJFD Secretary and Parade Chairman for the department, Richard F. Drew, said the 159th annual parade, which lines up at 1 p.m., kicks off at 2 p.m., and typically spans an approximate two-hour time period.
As always, it is sure to please parade-goers of all ages.
“The parade route, trophy distribution, and participants will be pretty much the same as in past years,” said Drew. “And of course there will be no rain.”
Drew’s lighthearted weather comment is a topic discussed
annually in reference to the parade, which reportedly has been carried out amazingly nearly rain-free for all of its more than century-and-a-half of continuous parade tradition.
The 78-year old parade chairman said he works on planning and putting together the parade year-round. He does such a great job that members of his department say his 35-years of parade chairmanship, which is the same amount of years he has served as secretary of the department, is considered a lifelong position from which he will never be allowed to retire.
“I do put the files away for a couple of months after each year’s parade,” said Drew. “But then I get them back out and get letters ready to go for next year.”
Drew noted that this year’s parade will feature three senior members of the department as Grand Marshals. They are Tom Bolland and Mike Trotta of this year’s Lead Company, Delaware Engine Company #2, and Past Chief Ray Harding of Neversink Engine Company #1.
It will also be a special parade for Chief Joseph J. Kowal, who is serving his final year as chief of the department.
“This year marks my final parade as Fire Chief of the Port Jervis Fire Department, and I would like to thank all the fire companies and their members for the many sacrifices they’ve had to make,” said Kowal. “I want you all to have a great Parade Day, and know that I am proud to have served as Fire Chief of this fine department. I will always be here if needed.”
While the parade takes place on Saturday afternoon, activities surrounding the annual event occur before and after the main event. These include a visit to the graves of past chiefs, a memorial service for deceased firefighters, inspection of each firehouse and apparatus, awarding of trophies, and post-parade refreshments.
July 11th -- be sure to mark your calendar for one of Port Jervis' biggest events of the year!
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