Falls Church Ready for Memorial Day Celebration

In just one week from today, the City of Falls Church will kick off its annual Memorial Day Parade.

Jenny Paxton, senior program supervisor for the city, said more than 70 groups will travel along the parade route beginning at 9 a.m. Paxton said this is her sixth year presiding over the parade’s planning.

“It gets easier in the fact that we have a lot of the same groups involved,” Paxton said. “I quickly learned when I came here that this is the biggest event in Falls Church.”

The 30th Annual Memorial Day Parade and Festival will kick off at 9 a.m. and run through 5 p.m. The parade will begin at 2 p.m. The free event will be held rain or shine at the Falls Church City Hall grounds at 300 Park Ave. Retired city worker Howard Herman will serve as grand marshal of the parade. Paxton said the Memorial Day Veteran’s Ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. at the city’s Veterans Memorial at 223 Little Falls St.

Paxton said the entire day takes several months to plan. She said once Memorial Day is over, she and her colleagues will have several months to rest before they get in gear for Memorial Day 2012.

“After Memorial Day this year, we won’t start planning until January,” Paxton said.

In years past, Herman had been nominated to serve as grand marshal of the parade. Paxton said with the former director of recreation and parks retired, this was his year.

“This year it seemed appropriate with him being retired and all,” Paxton said.