2013 John Basilone Parade in Raritan Borough New Jersey

The 32nd annual John Basilone Memorial Parade will take place this coming weekend, Sunday September 22nd in Raritan Borough.

Marine Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone was the recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor for gallant action during the Battle of Guadalcanal in 1942 and the Navy Cross for heroism in the 1945 Battle of Iwo Jima where he was eventually killed. Basilone's stint in the army ended in 1937 and then joined the Marines in 1940. Basilone was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame in 2011.

Here is a clip of John Basilone's character in HBO's mini series 'The Pacific' receiving the Medal of Honor.

On Sunday, Sept. 22, the Leathernecks Pipes and Drums will perform during the parade.

Raritan Borough Mayor Jo-Ann Liptak called into Jim's show this morning to discuss the parade and the excitement and patriotism the town exudes each year for the event. You can listen to her interview with Jim in the audio player below.

You can learn more about John Basilone by visiting the John Basilone Museum in the Raritan Borough Library on Somerset Street. The museum holds World War II memorabilia and artifacts as well as books, photographs and other materials specifically about or related to Basilone. It also holds photographs of borough veterans of the war.