IT WAS ONE OF THOSE DAYS PERFECT FOR A PARADE! THE WEATHER WAS SEASONABLY WARM/HOT, A SLIGHT BREEZE IN THE AIR! THE BRIDGEMEN COMING OFF A ONE DAY CAMP THE PREVIOUS DAY, SUNDAY AT 16th STREET PARK, AND NOW MEETING ONCE AGAIN, THIS TIME IN UNIFORM, AT MARY J, IN PREPERATION TO HONOR ALL WHO SERVED OUR COUNTRY SO THAT WE CAN HAVE OUR FREEDOMS THAT WE ALL HOLD SO DEAR IN OUR LIVES AT THE ANUAL BAYONNE 2009 MEMORIAL DAY PARADE! THE FIRST SURPRISE OF THE DAY WAS HAVING TWO PAST SAINT ANDREWS KIDETS DIRECTORS IN ATTENDENCE! SEATED SIDE BY SIDE AT 6th STREET & BROADWAY WAS JOHN CONDORA & BARBARA KOLODZIEJ! APPROPRIATELY SALUTED IN RESPECT BY THE HONOR GUARD, COLOR GUARD, DRUM MAJOR & A COMMAND PERFORMANCE BY THE CORPS AS THEY PASSED! EVERY YEAR, THE CROWD SWELLS MORE AND MORE AT THE TRADITIONAL BRIDGEMEN FANS PERSONAL CONCERT SITE, IN FRONT OF THE BAYONNE DINER AT 9TH STREET & BROADWAY, JUST UP THE BLOCK FROM THE BRIDGEMENS HOME, THE V.F.W. JOYCE HERBERT POST 226! THE FANS & THE EXPANDING BRIDGEMEN ALUMNI ALONG WITH ANOTHER FORMER KIDET DIRECTOR PRESENT, TOM KOWALAK, WERE TREATED WITH A SURPRISE THIS YEAR. THE BRIDGEMEN PERFORMED FOR THE FIRST TIME, RIGHT AFTER NEW BRIDGEMEN ALUMNI PRESIDENT DOUG KUENZLE, INSTRUCTED THE CROWD TO SPECIFICALLY “NOT SING ALONG” WHAT THEY WERE ABOUT TO HEAR, THE BRIDGEMEN PERFORMED THEIR OFFICIAL TRADITIONAL CORPS SONG! ALUMNI MEMBERS FACES DURING THE CORPS SONGS DEBUT SAID IT ALL! THE TORCH OF BRIDGEMEN TRADITION CONTINUES BY PAST & CURRENT GENERATION BRIDGEMEN TO LET ALL KNOW THE FIRE FROM WITHIN STILL BURNS BRIGHT WITH BRIDGEMEN HYPE, RESPECT & HONOR!