Middletown South Marching Band Walks In St. Patrick's Day Parade

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — In case you missed it, the Middletown High School South marching band performed in the New York City St. Patrick's Day parade on Thursday.

Eighty Middletown kids, ranging from middle schoolers to high school seniors, took charter buses up to New York City early Thursday morning, said High School South marching band director Mike Raguseo.

"The kids were excited to get back to doing it, because obviously the parade hasn't taken place the past two years," he said. "And it was great when we appeared on NBC New York Channel 4."

The students marched in the parade and performed "Dear Old Donegal," an medley of Irish folk songs. Also, teenage flag twirlers (Middletown calls them Color Guard) marched, as well.

Raguseo even invited eighth-grade middle school band members to march with the high school band, said Middletown school superintendent Mary Ellen Walker.

"The students were very excited and our school community is very proud of them," she said.

The Middletown South marching band has been performing in the NYC St. Patrick's Day parade every year (except for the past two when the parade was canceled due to the pandemic) for the past 12 years; they are considered a "legacy group" that is always invited back each year, both Walker and Raguseo said.

The tradition began in the 1980s when the Middletown High School South band marched together with the high school marching bands from Middletown, NY and Middletown, Connecticut, both of which no longer participate.

But as we can see, Middletown kids are still there every March, rain or shine!

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