Each year Galloway Township holds one of the largest Fourth of July parades in southern New Jersey.  This year the Township's parade committee honored two local residents and members of the 177th Fighter Wing when they asked them to serve as the honorary Grand Marshals for the community's annual Independence Day celebration.

      Chief Master Sgt. Robert McCarty of the 177th Maintenance Squadron and his son, Senior Airman Robert McCarty II, assigned to the 177th Civil Engineer Squadron both served in Iraq during the wing's most recent Air Expeditionary Force deployment there.  The Chief and his son are also both prior service veterans of the United States Marine Corps and active in the local Marine Corps League.  The parade committee, aware that both McCartys had served in Iraq at the same time, requested that they serve as honorary Grand Marshals for the Parade.

      Despite the fact that the father and son deployed together and were assigned to the 332nd Expeditionary Fighter Wing, their service was something less than joint. Chief McCarty, an aircraft maintenance supervisor served at Balad Air Base, Logistics Support Area Anaconda approximately 40 miles north of Baghdad, while his son, a firefighter, was assigned to the Rescue Air Mobility Squad at Ali Air Base (formerly Talill Air Base) near Nasiriyah, more than 420 miles away.

      Before the event, the parade committee chairman had asked Chief McCarty to prepare some brief remarks.  On the day of the parade, the Chief spoke about spirit and sacrifice. “From the Revolutionary War to the present War on Terrorism our service men and women have fought to keep the red, white and blue flying over this great nation. But one thing remains constant the American spirit. And that same spirit lives on in the troops today. Whether they're Active Duty, Guard or Reserves; Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, or Coast Guard these true patriots are still fighting to protect our rights for a better life for their families and yours and for the future generations of all Americans.  Our rights, privileges and freedoms were earned through their determination, sacrifices and steadfastness always striving for the ideals of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.  These things many people take for granted but they don't come about easily or for free.”

      The Galloway Fourth of July Parade has become the largest community sponsored parade in southern New Jersey.  This year there were more than 90 registered marching units and organizations. Marchers totaled almost 2,000 and the Galloway Police Department estimated that more than 6,000 spectators lined the parade's route through Smithville.