Hillsborough NJ Memorial Day Parade

The town of Hillsborough, NJ, holds a Memorial Day parade every year, and the NJ Region of the AACA has actively participated in recent years. This year’s parade was held on Saturday, May 24, 2025, and for once we had the weather on our side. The car count was close to twenty (including some late-model Mustangs), and the parade concluded as it does every year at the town’s Municipal Building. Most vehicle owners elected to stay for the informal car show behind the Municipal Building, which gave us an excuse to hang out and chat.

Vehicles were as old as a 1930 Chrysler (Craig’s 1929 LaSalle made an appearance but had to bail due to a fuel leak), with a strong showing of 1950s-era automobiles. My Alfa Romeo was the only non-domestic vehicle in the parade, but drew favorable comments from some of the residents who lined the streets. (I’ve always strongly felt that “the American way” includes the freedom of choice to own and drive the car of your choice, no matter the country of origin.)

Hillsborough is a large town with a significant Indian and Asian population. I’ve made this observation in the past and I’ll make it again: there is something incredibly moving about seeing so many people who obviously immigrated here (or were born to immigrant parents) waving American flags and coming out to celebrate such an important American holiday. This is why I elect to take so many photos of the parade observers. They are the fabric of our nation.

DRIVERS (and puppies) GET THEIR INSTRUCTIONS

BOB EXPLAINS WHY “SEDAN” SOMETIMES MEANS “WAGON”

THE VIEW FROM THE DRIVER’S SEAT

1962 CADILLAC ELDORADO CONVERTIBLE

RED, WHITE, AND BLUE MUSTANGS

1930 CHRYSLER

WAYNE’S 1952 HUDSON

EVEN THE BATMOBILE (WITH BATGIRL) SHOWED UP

AMERICANS:

The Hillsborough NJ Memorial Day parade was held on Saturday, May 27, 2023. As has become tradition, the NJ Region of the AACA was invited to have its members drive their collector cars in the parade. About 17 special interest vehicles, all at least 25 years old, participated. The weather was close to perfect, with sunny skies and comfortably warm temperatures. I enjoy this event because it’s local to me. I’ve driven it in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2022. In 2018 it was in the Miata, and all other times in the Alfa.

The oldest vehicles in the parade were from the ‘40s, and coincidentally, all were trucks. The 1950s were well-represented, with 7 cars, all from the Big 3. The 1960s cars included a late C1 Corvette, a Ford, two Mercurys, and the lone import in the parade, your scribe’s Alfa Romeo. A single vehicle from each of the decades of the ‘80s and ‘90s rounded it out.

All parades move slowly. This year, the puttering along seemed even slower, and then we came to a complete stop for several minutes. I learned later that one of the lead vehicles (not an AACA car) was tossing candy out the windows, and children were running into the street to retrieve it, which led to a dangerous situation. The parade was temporarily stopped so that this vehicle could be instructed to quit tossing the sweets. I almost brought the parade to a stop myself when a spectator yelled out to me “I like your Audi!”. I hit my brakes and yelled back “it’s an Alfa!”.

For me, as it has been in previous years, it’s all about the spectators. I love seeing people of all ages, races, and ethnic backgrounds who are now here in the USA and are partaking in this event. I’m glad that the NJ Region has continued its own tradition by participating each year.