Volunteers needed to set up Clifton's Avenue of Flags for Memorial Day

CLIFTON — Five times a year, weather permitting, City Hall grounds become a sea of red, white and blue as the Avenue of Flags is set up to honor those who served in the armed forces.

On Memorial Day, Flag Day, July 4, Sept. 11 and Veteran's Day volunteers arrive at dawn at one of the historic barns at the corner of Van Houten and Clifton avenues where thousands of flags are stored. They take the flags out, each marked with a veteran's name, and set them up along the paths on the municipal hall property.

The Avenue has become one of the biggest displays of full-sized American flags in the state.

The total number of flags has grown over the last 20 years to 2,169 American flags and 283 to represent those city residents who perished while serving their country.

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The city is looking for volunteers to help out on Sunday for the Memorial Day set up at 6 a.m. and lower them on Monday at 6 p.m. In case of inclement weather on Sunday, the flags may be set up on Monday.

Another Clifton tradition will also continue on Sunday with the Memorial Day Parade. The parade, led by the Clifton Mustang Band, will kick off from Valley Bank on Allwood Road. Scouts, ROTC, baseball teams, and Passaic County Sheriff's officers will proceed down Allwood Road, to Market Street to Merrill Road and ending at Chelsea Park.

A formal ceremony for those who died in service will take place at the park.

To donate to the parade, send a check payable to the City of Clifton Parade Committee to the City of Clifton Parade Committee, 900 Clifton Ave. Clifton, NJ 07013.

If interested in volunteering, please call Keith Oakley at 201-774-6666 or Joe Tuzzolino at 973-632-9225.

For more information, or to purchase a flag for the display, visit cliftonnj.org/222/Avenue-of-Flags.