West Essex Prepares for Memorial Day Parade

The West Essex annual Memorial Day Parade is Monday, May 27, and will be led by Grand Marsal Roger L. Jones of West Caldwell.  

The communities of Caldwell, Essex Fells, Fairfield, North Caldwell, Roseland, and West Caldwell will kick off the parade starting at 9:30 a.m. that day at Forest Avenue in Caldwell, next to St. Aloysius Church. 

The marching line will continue 1.1 miles west down Bloomfield Avenue to Crane Park in West Caldwell. 

Grand Marshal Jones was raised in nearby Bloomfield and graduated from Bloomfield High School in 1950. The following year he enlisted in the United States Air Force and reported to Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas for training. 

After his training, he was deployed from San Francisco, Calf., to the Korean War. During his 13-month tour there, Jones served in a combat unit of the Psychological Warfare division stationed on an island near Yeongdeungpo and Seoul. 

In addition to dropping surrender pamphlets and broadcasting messages to enemy troops, he also maintained B-17 bombers and C-47 cargo planes. His unit performed nighttime raids dropping fire flares over enemy patrols to illuminate their locations for U.S. ground troops. 

Jones received the National Defense Service, Korean Service, In Service and Good Conduct medals for his service. 

In 1956, Jones met his future wife Dolores Schmidt. The two married on July 20, 1957. They resided in Bloomfield and Cedar Grove before moving to West Caldwell in 1960. The two had four children together: Roger Jr., Lorry Ann, Garrett and Pamela. 

After closing his dry cleaning business in 1979, Jones began working for the West Caldwell Public Works Department. He also served as a volunteer fireman on the West Caldwell Fire Department for many years. 

Jones retired from his post at the public works department in 1998.

Since his retirement, Jones has been a member of the Old Guard, Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion. He is also an active member at the First Presbyterian Church.