Posted on: May 15, 2015 Rockville Invites Public to 71st Memorial Day Ceremony and Parade Event Grand Marshal Earned Purple Heart in Afghanistan Rockville, Md., May 15 – Rockville will mark Memorial Day with a ceremony and parade on Monday, May 25, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. in Rockville Town Center. The event begins with a musical prelude by the Rockville Concert Band and the Rockville Community Chorus at 9 a.m. The ceremony, hosted by the Mayor and Council, starts at 9:30 a.m. The program includes remarks from Mayor Bridget Donnell Newton, a wreath-laying, a 21-gun salute and the playing of taps. Visitors will also hear from the event’s grand marshal, Cpl. Jeff King, USMC (Ret.), during the ceremony. Cpl. King grew up in Rockville and graduated from Richard Montgomery High School in 2003. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 2008 and served in the 2nd Marine Division as an infantry rifleman and radio operator. He deployed to Helmand Province, Afghanistan, in 2010 and 2011. After he was wounded in September 2011, he completed physical therapy and rehabilitation at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and medically retired from the Marine Corps in 2013. Among his awards are the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal and the Afghanistan Campaign Medal. Cpl. King is completing a master’s degree in social work at the University of Maryland this month. He interned at the Baltimore Veterans Affairs Medical Center, where he provided counseling and behavioral health services to veterans, and is looking forward to continuing his career as a social worker. Following the ceremony is the Memorial Day parade, beginning at 10:30 a.m. The parade route begins on Martins Lane, turns south onto North Washington Street, then turns east onto Beall Avenue, south onto Maryland Avenue through Rockville Town Center and east onto East Montgomery Avenue. Residents and visitors along the parade route will see more than 60 parade units featuring a variety of floats, bands, step units, drill and majorette units, color guards, dance troops and other community groups. Brian van de Graaff, weathercaster on weekday mornings for ABC7/WJLA and News Channel 8, will emcee the parade. The Memorial Day ceremony and parade wraps up the three-day Hometown Holidays music festival, which will feature top local and national bands on four stages, amusements and entertainment for children, and the Taste of Rockville, with local restaurants participating. The festival is open from 2-10 p.m. on May 23 and 24 (Taste of Rockville opens at noon each day). For more about Memorial Day and Hometown Holidays, visit www.rockvillemd.gov/hth. MEDIA CONTACT: Marylou Berg Communication Manager 240-314-8105 mberg@rockvillemd.gov

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