The 2006 Grand Marshall is James Sorace James Sorace was born in Raritan in 1924. He served in World War II aboard The Navy Ship The USS Oakland His ship saw action at 9 battles including the Marshall Islands, Okinawa, Guam, Truk, and Leyte Gulf After the war, he returned home and in 1947 opened his own business on Somerset Street in Raritan The J&J Barber Shop which is still open today - 59 years later Click for full story
	When James joined the Navy he was already a licensed barber. So the Navy put him to work as one.	Web Site for U.S.S. Oakland
James returned home in 1946. Here he is with his sister Fran and Ann Navatto The background is Thompson Street in Raritan. Today Pizza Brothers is directly behind were he is standing		Here is James Sorace in front of his home at 24 Doughty Street in Raritan
click to see Telegram sent home	click to see letter sent home during the war	click for James in Hawaii