By Patrick Olivero
MIDDLETOWN – Veterans, students, Scouts and first responders took part in Middletown’s 69th annual Veterans Day Parade Nov. 8, continuing a township tradition of recognizing military service that has spanned generations.
Organized by Middletown Township and its Parks and Recreation Department, the parade began at 1:30 p.m. at Bayview Elementary School on Leonardville Road. Participants traveled through historic Campbell’s Junction before finishing at Mater Dei Park on Cherry Tree Farm Road.
Both Middletown High School North and South marching bands participated, with North taking its traditional place leading the parade on that side of town. The lineup also included three veterans groups, eight registered Boy Scout and Girl Scout groups, a pipe and drum band, classic cars and first responders.
Janet Dellett, parks and recreation director, said additional groups joined without registering, so the registration totals did not account for everyone who marched. She described participation as more modest this year, while emphasizing that honoring veterans remained the event’s focus.
Along the route, children held American flags as spectators waved to passing participants. A Scout carried a large flag alongside fellow Scouts, while military insignia appeared on participants’ caps and in the window of a classic car.
Mayor Tony Perry said the involvement of young residents was a meaningful part of the longstanding observance.
“It’s especially meaningful to see younger generations participating and learning the importance of honoring those who have defended our freedoms,” Perry said in written responses following the parade.
Dellett said planning typically begins about three months before the event, although a busy fall shortened this year’s preparation period. Keeping veterans central to those preparations also shaped decisions about the parade’s participants and traditions, she said. Local organizations, young people and first responders helped carry the observance forward.
“We want our veterans to feel recognized and know that their service continues to be valued by this community,” Dellett said.
This article originally appeared in the November 12-18, 2026 print edition of The Two River Times.
