Parade to Mark End of Weekend Honoring Late Marine

Your teens are holding a car wash at the high school Saturday. The grandparents volunteered to take the younger children to a movie Sunday afternoon. Your tweens take tap on Wednesday evening. It’s your time. Take it.

Each week, we’ll tell you about one great idea to give you a much deserved break, and make your life a little easier, maybe a whole lot easier.

This weekend is the annual time to honor the late John Basilone, who is the only enlisted Marine to be awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor and the Navy Cross, as well as the only one to return to action after winning the Medal of Honor.

The late Raritan resident is honored with a parade and other events every year at this time, as residents from Bridgewater, Raritan and the surrounding Somerset County towns honor the brave Marine, who also has a field named after him at the .

This weekend, the festivities begin Friday and last through Sunday, with:

• The Summerswing Orchestra playing World War II music, plus fireworks, Friday at 7 p.m. at the Basilone Statue on Somerset Street.
• A Fun Run will be held Saturday, beginning at the Basilone Statue on Somerset Street. Time will be announced before the end of the week.
• Two Marine Band concerts will be held at Raritan Valley Community College at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday.
• A church service will be held at St. Ann’s Church Sunday at 10:30 a.m.
• The Basilone Museum will be open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday at the Raritan Library.
• The Basilone Parade will begin at 1 p.m. Sunday on Somerset Street. A ceremony will be held directly after the parade at the Basilone Statue on Somerset Street.

For more information about the weekend, and Basilone himself, visit basiloneparade.com.