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Chamber plans Memorial Day parade in downtown
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Manteca will conduct a Memorial Day parade in a bid to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice serving America.

The parade is part of a day-long effort dubbed “The Price of Freedom” that will include numerous activities at Woodward Park similar to what happened last year. The big change though is the events will actually take place on Memorial Day, May 31, and not on the Sunday prior.

The parade is being organized by the Manteca Chamber of Commerce. It will travel down Yosemite Avenue from Library Park to Manteca High just like the annual Christmas parade that the business organizes also stages.

“The (chamber) board felt it would be an awesome salute to those who have died and served,” noted chamber chief executive officer Debby Moorhead.

Memorial Day is also one of the days that the chamber coordinates volunteers in the placing of 2,400 flags along key Manteca streets.

Moorhead said the chamber was inspired by Pastor Mike Dillman of The Place of Refuge challenge made last year to make “Manteca the most patriotic city in America.”

Dillman has been part of the driving force organizing Memorial Day weekend salutes in Manteca for the past four years. He also has coordinated efforts to put together the portable display that honors all of those who have given their lives in the Global War on Terror.

The chamber is now trying to organize volunteers to help stage the parade. They intend to send applications for the parade to those who have participated in either the Christmas twilight procession or the Fourth of July parade.

You can contact the chamber at 823-6121 for more details.

Churches of all faiths in Manteca banned together with veterans groups, the City of Manteca, the Manteca Convention & Visitors Bureau and Manteca Chamber of Commerce to stage last year’s “One Nation under God” Memorial Day Weekend event on Sunday, May 24, at Woodward Park.

There was entertainment, fly-bys, ceremonies, and other activities that drew thousands from throughout Northern California. The evening ended with fireworks.