VETERANS' DAY TRIP TO NEW YORK CITY

Over 75 Middletown Cadets [this would be where our unit name would go if we had one!] were on the road to New York City for the 91st annual Veteran's Parade, traditionally the largest in the country.  As a unit, we looked particularly good--our cadets were well-turned out in the correct uniform and stood by in good order awaiting the ceremony and start of the parade itself.  The event was attended by Governor Patterson, Representative Rangel, Mayor Bloomberg, and a host of other dignitaries.  It was the best Veterans' Day weather-wise in recent years by far; the weather was clear and the temps were in the 50s.  Before the ceremony the cadets had the opportunity to explore the area Madison Square Park in small groups.  There were participants from all over, including a large contingent of Korean veterans from both the Republic of Korea Navy and Army.  We were honored to be asked to carry a garrison flag--a very large flag (20 feet by 38 feet) that would normally be flown on the tallest flag pole of an army fort--in the lead division of the parade.  The flag weighed over 100 pounds and it took nearly all of our cadets to control it when the breeze caught it.  On the way back we stopped at Palisades Mall for an early dinner where prodigious quantities of sugar and other health foods were consumed by our hungry cadets.  A vote was taken and, Commander Wall casting 51% of the votes, the radio was not played on the bus on the way back.  The following pictures were taken by Cadet Evan Camacho:

Governor Patterson

Not Governor Patterson

Either an American Bald Eagle or a really "cut" parakeet

The Empire State Building.  If you look closely you will note that King Kong was not in residence.

Not King Kong

The famous Flat Iron Building.



The garrison flag




Another view of the garrison flag



MHS NJROTC banner and color guard



MHS Cadet Color Guard





The Evil Doer