The 78th annual Berks County Armed Forces Day Parade was held Saturday in West Reading and Wyomissing. The parade honors all branches of the military, and this year will highlight the 250th anniversary of the nation and the enduring commitment to freedom.
The Armed Forces Day Parade in Berks is the nation’s oldest, as the holiday wasn’t recognized federally until 1949, a year after the event started in Reading. The parade is put together by the Berks County Armed Forces Advisory Committee.
Col. Jay Ostrich, director of the Berks County Veterans Affairs, hands out flags during the Armed Forces Day Parade on Penn Avenue in West Reading on Saturday, May 16, 2026. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)
The Reading High School Marine Corps Junior ROTC honor guard leads the Armed Forces Day Parade on Penn Avenue in West Reading on Saturday, May 16, 2026. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)
West Reading Mayor Samantha Kaag distributes flags during the Armed Forces Day Parade on Penn Avenue in West Reading on Saturday, May 16, 2026. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)