The three Middletown middle schools, in conjunction with Middletown 350, will be honoring World War II veterans at Middletown Military Shout Out, on May 24, beginning at 10:00 a.m. The theme of this multi-faceted event is to “Remember, Educate, and Entertain,” culminating in an authentic World War II U.S.O. show performed by students from the Thorne, Bayshore, and Thompson middle schools.
Thorne Middle School, which houses the Battle of the Bulge Monument, will host the event.Special guests will include survivors of that battle and other World War II Veterans. The school is named for Corporal Horace Thorne, Middletown’s only Congressional Medal of Honor recipient. The medal was awarded posthumously for Corporal Thorne’s heroism during the Battle of the Bulge. The Middletown Military Shout Out event is part of a series commemorating Middletown’s 350th anniversary.
Middletown Military Shout Out will feature three events, beginning with a wreath-laying ceremony at the Battle of the Bulge monument in front of the school. The Battle of the Bulge monument, previously housed at Fort Monmouth, was relocated to Thorne in May of 2011, with a re-dedication ceremony that included over 90 survivors of the battle. Next, attendees will be welcome to visit inside the school to see a “Wall of Heroes” and showcases of World War II gear and uniforms. There will be a special presentation by Mr. Frank McGinley, an artist who captures history through painting. Several of Mr. McGinley’s original paintings depicting the battle will be on display. The program will conclude with the U.S.O. show, which will take place outside, behind the school.
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Veterans who wish to attend Middletown Military Shout Out should contact the school, at (732) 787-1220. Families and the general public are welcome to attend any part of the program, and need not contact the school. For the U.S.O. show, seating will be available for veterans and their families. Other attendees are encouraged to bring chairs or blankets for seating. Thorne Middle School is located at 70 Murphy Road, in the Port Monmouth section of Middletown.
For more information on Middletown 350 and planned events, please visit www.middletownnj.org/content/middletown350.
