2015 Middletown Memorial Day Parade

718

NEWS-ParadeWeekend1
MIDDLETOWN – While droves of locals spent their Memorial Day enjoying the beaches, hundreds decided to stay behind and view the annual Middletown Memorial Day Parade honoring the members of our armed services.
The members of our Two River area communities, local and volunteer fire and police departments as well as local rescue teams marched down the parade route both on foot and by emergency vehicles. Candy was thrown out of the vehicle windows to children enjoying the parade while sirens blared and the horns of classic cars honked.
Kevin Shaughnessy of Middletown, whose father was in the army for 44 years, made it a point to set up a few chairs and blankets on the side of Leonardville Road to watch the parade with his family.
“We do it every year,” Shaughnessy said. “It’s to honor those who have given the ultimate sacrifice for protecting our rights and our freedoms.”
There were also many spectators that were attending the parade for the first time.
“I’m here to see my sister march because she’s a Girl Scout,” said Maggie DeGroat, a 19-year old Brookdale student from Middletown. “This is my first year watching it and I’m wowed.”
Girl Scout and Boy Scout troops from every part of Middletown marched as well as a collection of Disney Princesses and Marvel Superheroes, bringing great joy to children. Captain America himself even gave a small boy wearing his iconic emblem a high-five.
The parade, which started at 10 a.m. May 25 at Bayshore Middle School on Leonardville Road, lasted about an hour and a half and marched down Leonardville Road to Appleton Avenue to Center Avenue to Brevent Avenue, then right onto Highland Avenue, left back onto Leonardville Road, then right onto Viola Avenue to the Post Home on Route 36.
The annual parade is produced by American Legion Post 338 in cooperation with Middletown Township.
— Story and photo by Joey Dominguez