Past state Legion commander to speak at Veteran’s Day event
CONNELLSVILLE – A past state commander of the Pennsylvania American Legion will be the featured guest speaker when the city hosts the annual Veteran’s Day parade and program. Richard A. Coccimiglio will be the keynote speaker for the Nov. 11 program at the Veteran’s War Memorial that will be held immediately following the parade.
The cities of Connellsville, Uniontown and Masontown alternately host the events.
Coccimiglio has been a member of the American Legion for three decades and has held various offices within the organization at the local, state and national levels.
A member of the George D. Montgomery Post 17 in Dubois, Coccimiglio has served as post service officer for more than 20 years and has served as post commander.
He has been awarded the national citation for Meritorious Service for Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation, the Outstanding Service and Dedication Award and the Edward T. Hoak “It’s A Good Thing You Do” award.
The program will include participation by the Molinaro Band; the Connellsville Area Senior High School band; the Rev. John Butler of the St. John’s Evangelical R.C. Church, who will provide the invocation; Ronald L. Shroyer, who will sing the national anthem; and the Rev. Marvin Watson who will provide the benediction.
Connellsville Area School District superintendent Gerald Browell will serve as master of ceremonies for the program, with Nancy C. Jones, president of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary, placing the wreath at the War Memorial.
Preceding the program, numerous fire departments, veterans’ organizations, civic groups, local and county officials along with various high school and area marching units will take part in a parade that will organize on the city’s West Side beginning at 10:30 a.m.
According to planners, the parade route will include Crawford Avenue to the Crawford Avenue Bridge where at 11 a.m., the Veterans Honor Guard will conduct a brief ceremony to pay tribute to the men and women of the Armed Services.
The ceremony will include a 21-gun salute and the playing of “Taps” by members of the Uniontown VFW Post 47 band.
James Flynn, VFW Post 21 quartermaster, will serve as parade marshal, along with Oron Lowe, Brady Mitchell, Allen Q. Jones, John Layton, Thomas McFadden, Don Siple, John Slusarczyk and Michael Andursky, representing Post 21.
Ted Davis and Sam Brown will serve as parade marshals from American Legion Post 762 and George Piovesan, Don Burkholder, Rob Geehring, James Dunn, Ray Anthony, Thomas Miller and William Hickenbottom from American Legion Post 301.