By Picatinny Public Affairs Office
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Photo by Todd MozesInteraction with Picatinny equipment is always very popular during the Armed Forces Day open house. |
Picatinny’s very popular open-to-the-public Armed Forces Day
celebration returns May 19.
The Picatinny community will open its gates to the public when local community
members are invited to join with installation members in recognizing America’s
sons and daughters.
The event is scheduled to run from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The installation’s main gate will open to the public at 8:30 a.m. (click here for schedule of events)
The key event this year is a dedication ceremony of trees for our “Trail of Heroes” to honor New Jersey service members who have fallen during the Global War on Terrorism. (click here for list of names)
The ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. in front of the Lt. Col. Francis H. Parker building, building 1, located on Ramsey Avenue. Eventually, the red oak trees will be planted along a nature trail in memory of each fallen New Jersey service member.
This trail will offer another way to remind us of why we are here. Never forget Soldiers are our business.
The dedication ceremony will be followed by a
military-aircraft flyover by the New Jersey National Guard.
The rest of the day will be devoted to traditional Picatinny Armed Forces Day
activities. Also, one of the mainstays of the celebration, the Armed Forces Day
parade, will begin at 11:00 a.m.
The parade will feature the West Point Corps of Cadets Color Guard, marching bands, military and vintage vehicles and local veteran and scout groups.
Other planned activities for the day include Civil War and World War II re-enactments, the very popular tank-crushing-car event, parachutists, concerts, kiddie events, static displays and exhibits of military equipment and Picatinny programs.
Food and refreshments will be sold at concession stands throughout the day.
Visitors to the celebration are asked to not bring coolers,
backpacks or picnic baskets. Pets will not be admitted, other than those for
assistance.
Parking is free. Shuttle-bus service will be used to transport people to and
from parking lots to the events area.
Parking
Picatinny employees in Department of Defense-decaled vehicles will be parked
with the general public.
After entering Picatinny, drivers will be directed to designated parking areas by the police traffic-control points and parking staff.
The Main, Mount Hope gates will be open to the general public. Picatinny employees working as AFD volunteers and event staff should use the Truck Gate for entry; all others should use either the Main or Mount Hope gates.
Handicap parking will be available near the event area. The
police traffic-control points and signs will direct drivers to the handicap
parking areas.
Shuttle buses
There will be buses regularly servicing the designated parking areas at clearly
marked bus stops.
Walking
People may also walk from any of the parking areas to the event area. Please use
the routes designated by signs if you choose to walk. Also, walkers are
requested to refrain from cutting across the golf course or the private lawns of
Picatinny’s military tenants.
Addition useful information my be found in the
Tips for a fun Armed Forces
Day. For more information, visit
www.pica.army.mil/afd.
