Parade Grand Marshal
2020 Palmyra Halloween Parade Grand Marshal
We love having our Grand Marshal lead our parade, but in light of current environment we won’t have our normal parade in 2020. We look forward to our 2021 Parade to bring you a new Grand Marshal.
2019 Palmyra Halloween Parade Grand Marshal | Charlie Pratt
As African lore states, “It takes a village to raise a child.” Our village, Palmyra NJ, helped in every way to make Charlie Pratt the man he became.
Charlie was a graduate of Palmyra High School’s class of 1952, where he was mentored by several significant people who helped him start out his track career. While participating in several large high school track meets, Charlie was noticed by Manhattan College where he later received a scholarship and went on to earn a degree. During Charlie’s four years of college, he traveled all over the country, winning several National Championships in the low hurdles. Several athletes encouraged Charlie to compete in the Decathlon and he placed second in the National Championship; this allowed the National Championship competition the to be held in Palmyra the following year.
Charlie joined the Army after college and was an athlete for the Armed Forces’ team. He traveled the world competing with the best of the best. Charlie was stationed at Fort Dix and continued his training. When Charlie’s time with the Army was completed, he decided to go into education. He spent ten years as a teacher and then twenty-seven years as a Guidance Counselor at Rancocas Valley High School.
At an early age Charlie Pratt would say, “I am going to be somebody.” Charlie says today, “my richness is not in money. My wealth comes from the abundance of good people who have crossed my path.” He does not judge people, instead he looks into their souls; measures them by their good intentions and thanks them for their kind deeds. Charlie Pratt is a rare champion who genuinely credits others before himself.
To learn more about Charlie Pratt, look for his memoir Many Villages Raised Charlie Pratt. We are so proud to have Charlie Pratt represent Palmyra as our Grand Marshal for 2019!!!
2018 Palmyra Halloween Grand Marshal | Joe Tomarchio
“Thanks to Palmyra residents and the Triboro area, I have run a successful business at JT’s Vac and Sew for 24 years. Served on the township EOC Committee for 15 years. I was an officer for the Palmyra Business Community Alliance for 20 years. I was the Co-chairman for the Palmyra Festival and Police Safety Day from the very beginning.
“I am very proud to be the Grand Marshall of the Halloween Parade. I would like to thank the Halloween Parade Committee for this pleasure. We should all be Palmyra Proud.”