Wounded Warrior Parade steps off Saturday in Jackson with added security

JACKSON — You have a chance to honor and thank our service men and women this Saturday by attending the 9th annual Wounded Warrior Parade hosted by the Central Jersey Rifle and Pistol Club.

Mayor Michael Reina says there will be security precautions in place in the wake of last month's pipe bomb explosion at a military charity 5K in Seaside Park, but canceling it would have been the worst thing they could have done.

"We owe everything to do them, and that's why I just keep doing it," Reina said of the troops. "These people went into harms way for us, and what we've done and what we continue to do, is we're all vigilant."

"For us to just go in our houses and tuck our heads down and say please don't let it happen, they win, even when they don't do anything," said Reina.

Reina pointed out that with the event being hosted by the Central Jersey Rifle and Pistol Club, there will be plenty of armed people there, and he noted parade route along West Veterans Highway will be scanned all morning until the procession ends.

"There will be no trash receptacles or places to hide any type of device," Reina said.

The procession will step off at 9:30 a.m. from the Jackson Justice Complex on Jackson Drive. A service will follow immediately after the parade.

Contact reporter Dianne DeOliveira at Dianne.DeOliveira@townsquaremedia.com