2010 Memorial Day Parade

Harding Township celebrated Memorial Day with the historic Memorial Day Parade. Participants marched from the school on Lee’s Hill Road to the firehouse on Village Road and Memorial Park for the post parade ceremony.

Steve Balog gave the welcome address. He followed up on last year’s welcome by telling the audience he saw his uncle’s grave when he visited the National Park at Gettysburg. He was named after his uncle who died in WW2. Steve reminded us that like many of the soldiers who died in our wars, his uncle also “gave the greatest sacrifice of all”.

For 41 years, the Civic Association has recognized citizens who have given their talents, energy and resources to the community and The Trustees of the Harding Township Civic Association chose to honor Fred Morgan Kirby II and Walker Dillard Kirby as the 2010 Distinguished Citizens of the Year. Fred is a veteran of the US Navy who served in England and France during WWII. Following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, Fred Kirby was an investor and businessman. In 1967, after his father was taken ill, Fred assumed control of both the family business interests and the FM Kirby Foundation, a foundation created by Fred’s grandfather in 1931.

Over the years, under Fred’s direction, even as the Foundation gave away sizable sums, the Foundation assets grew immensely due to an enlightened investment strategy. A few of the organizations that benefited from the Kirby Foundation largess were Lafayette College, Rockefeller Institute and the Lawrenceville School.

Within Morris County major contributions have been made to Drew University, the ECLC Foundation, Grace Episcopal Church, Homeless Solutions, Madison Area YMCA, Morris Memorial Hospital, Peck School, The Seeing Eye, Inc. and the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey.

Withinin Harding, the FM Kirby Foundation has supported the First Presbyterian Church, the Great Swamp Watershed Association, the Harding Land Trust, the Harding Historical Society, the Harding Township Library, the Recreation Association, the New Vernon Volunteer Fire Department, and Harding Township itself. In fact, Kirby Hall, the Township’s Municipal Building, was given to the Township by the Kirby Family, as was the land for Christ the King Church.

Walker Dillard Kirby, Fred’s wife for over sixty years, has also been involved in many organizations. She has served on the boards of the Peck School, Drew University, Newark Academy, NJ Shakespeare Theatre and the Summit Speech School. Her work at the Seeing Eye deserves special mention. She was asked in the early 1970’s to join the board but agreed only after receiving assurances that she was needed as a working board member and not just another financial supporter. She started “Walker’s Walkers” a program of volunteers that exercise the dogs daily and a program where visitors can tour the facility.

HTCA Vice President Barbara Brennan announced the winners of the essay contest. This year’s topic was “Who is the Most Important Person in History”. This year’s winners were:
Grades
1st and 2nd - Brock Bierly – Marin Luther King
3rd and 4th - Drake Mead - George Washington
5th and 6th – Noah French – Martin Luther King
7th and 8th – Olivia Altman – The Unknown Soldier

All winners read their essays to the crowd and had a photo opportunity in front of the podium and were presented with a $200.00 savings bond