MIDDLETOWN – Municipal officials have announced ongoing initiatives to assist veterans since closing on a property on Leonardville Road in the Belford section of Middletown that will become a 100% affordable housing project for individuals who served in the military.
Municipal officials will support the efforts of the all-volunteer Veterans Affairs Committee (VAC) to establish a “Thank a Veteran” program that will offer veterans discounts at Middletown businesses; to institute a “Veteran of the Year” program; and to promote awareness of the state fee exemption for local metered parking for disabled veterans and Purple Heart recipients, according to a press release from the township.
Mayor Tony Perry said, “The Township Committee and I are honored to support the VAC in these important initiatives, as well as to create affordable housing units deemed solely for the honorable men and women who have served our country.”
The township will partner with the Middletown Housing Authority on the Leonardville Road housing project. The authority currently manages hundreds of affordable housing units in town, according to the press release.
The building on Leonardville Road that will be demolished is a former tool rental location across from a Carvel ice cream shop.
“We will begin cleaning up the site this summer,” Perry said.
Municipal officials expect to break ground on the Leonardville Road affordable housing project for veterans later this year, according to the press release.
Township Committee members recently passed a resolution which outlines how the town intends to support veterans, such as continuing to designate parking spaces for veterans on Middletown properties; recognizing active military personnel on the Heroes Wall in Town Hall; and continuing to pay tribute to Middletown’s fallen heroes who were killed in action through a Fallen Veterans Commemorative Street Sign Program.
In May, officials held dedications in honor of Revolutionary War veterans Joseph Murray and Obadiah Stillwell who were killed in action, and installed a new World War II memorial sign at the monument at Croydon Hall.
More than 50 signs have been added throughout the township to pay tribute to Middletown service members who were killed in action from the Revolutionary War to the present day, according to the press release.
For more information, visit www.middletownnj.org/veterans
