Americanism Day planned May 1
American Legion Post 51 Commander Ron Danko said members of his organization are busy getting ready for Americanism Day to be celebrated May 1 in downtown Uniontown. Danko said American Legion State Commander Gerald “Jerry” Zorn will be on hand for the festivities along with Uniontown Mayor Jim Sileo.
Danko said a lot has been going on with the local American Legion post over the past month with American troops being deployed to the Persian Gulf.
“We are here to honor all the men and women who are deployed in 32 countries around the world and to honor those who have bravely fought, served and died for this country,” said Danko.
Danko said Americanism Day started in Uniontown 1933 following the coal strike in Western Pennsylvania.
“At that time, there was considerable radical activity in the coal towns in Fayette County,” said Danko. “A group of communists asked permission to have a parade on May Day (to coincide with Moscow’s annual May Day Parade) in April 1934 and the Uniontown Police Department was faced with the probability of stirring up an incident that would cause trouble whether it gave permission or refused it.”
Danko said if the communists marched, considering the temper of the district, there might be a riot. And if the request were denied, there would be a controversy.
“That’s when five Legionnaires of Lafayette Post 51, American Legion, Chief of Police A.W. Davis, Recruiting Sergeant James Smith, Matty Bain, Allen Parke and Mason McLaughlin solved the problem by offering an Americanism Day celebration as an alternative with speeches and a giant parade that would include everybody, native and immigrant populace alike,” said Danko.
Danko said 5,000 school children marched in the first parade along with Knights Templar in plumes and swards, ethnic groups in native costumes, Slovak, Polish, Russian and Italian lodges, The American Fraternal Orders, the unions and the American Legion.
“It was a great show,” said Danko. “It was so well received that it has become an annual feature of the Coke Region.”
Danko said in 1937 state representatives from Fayette County secured the passage of a joint resolution in the legislature to set aside May 1 as Americanism Day throughout Pennsylvania by a governor’s proclamation.
“In 1944, 15,000 marched in Uniontown,” said Danko. “This, the 12th Americanism parade, took in so many organizations that it was a wonder there were any people left to be spectators. Native born and immigrants worked together to organize it and marched together.”
Danko said in 1970 there were so many participants that the length of the parade was doubled. He also said that was an estimated crowd of 40,000 and the parade lasted for four hours.
“It has taken time to achieve a blend of the Coke Region mixture,” said Danko. “But through the years, this has been accomplished. With the untiring efforts of the members of the American Legion, Lafayette Post 51 and the cooperation of numerous other organizations and the community in general, our Americanism Day has set a pattern for all America to follow.”
Danko said this year’s parade, which begins promptly at 7 p.m., promises to be the largest ever.
“We estimate having five divisions starting with the American Legion, high school bands, the Post 47 Veterans of Foreign Wars National Band, Boy and Girl Scout packs and troops will be in the parade.”
Danko said he would have a complete division set up on where everyone is to meet and the parade route later this month.
Danko added that the post’s Yellow Ribbon Campaign continues go gain momentum.
“This program was started many, many years ago,” said Danko. “I don’t know if you remember a movie that was made about the Seventh Calvary in the 1870s, showing a woman who wore a yellow ribbon around her neck to show her support of her boyfriend who was off to war, but that’s how all of this started.” Danko said the American Legion has made over 6,000 yellow ribbons and given them out to residents over the past two weeks. “The yellow ribbons are for everyone who is serving in harms way,” said Danko. “And that includes firefighters and police. We have already given out over 6,000 of the bows for on the lapel and we are making another 4,000 to 5,000 to give out at the Americanism Day parade.” Danko said the American Legion has taken yellow ribbons to all of the local banks and given them to the tellers to give out. Danko said the funny thing about a program that the American Legion sponsors is that they all have beginnings but no end.
“As long as we have veterans and service people in harms way, these programs will continue forever,” said Danko. Danko said the post is also restarting the Blue Banner program. “I just got word today that I will receive my banners on May 1,” said Danko.
“At that time, we will have a presentation. We have 23 families in the area who have members of their families fighting somewhere in the world and we are going to give them the blue star banners to proudly display in their windows.”
Danko said in addition to the Blue Star Banner there is a Gold Star Banner that he “prays to God” he never has to present to anyone.
“The Gold Banner is for someone who has paid the ultimate sacrifice,” said Danko.
“and I pray to God that I never have to give one of those banners to someone’s mother.”