Memorial Day events listed
Numerous local veterans’ organizations are participating in many events this Memorial Day holiday to pay tribute to veterans who have served in various wars throughout the years . One of the biggest services is scheduled for 10 a.m. Monday at Sylvan Heights Cemetery on North Gallatin Avenue Extension in North Union Township. Organized by the United War Veterans, the service will feature about 12 local veterans’ organizations.
Master of ceremony will be Cmdr. Louis Giachetti of the United Veterans Association of Uniontown. According to Jim Smith, program chairman of the United Veterans Association, a two- bell ceremony will start the program.
The toll of the ship’s bell is to remind everyone of the reverence the nation owes to its departed veterans and to those who guard the honor of our country, on the sea, in the air and on foreign soil. Smith said a re-enactor will be placing flags in 13 grave markers to represent all wars of the United States, from the Revolutionary War to the war in Iraq today.
American Gold Star Mother Deborah Hull, mother of Army Reserve Spc. Eric R. Hull, a Uniontown native who was killed by a land mine while hauling supplies in Iraq, will be placing markers during the service. The American Gold Star Mothers is an organization of mothers who have lost a son or daughter in the service of our country. Two representatives from Daughters of American Revolution will also place markers.
Additionally, Smith said a civil war re-enactor will read Gen. John A. Logan’s
Memorial Day Order, which designated in 1868 a day for the purpose of decorating graves of comrades who died in defense of their country. In this observance no form or ceremony is prescribed, but posts and comrades will in their own way arrange such fitting services and testimonials of respect as circumstances may permit.
The Gettysburg Address will be recited, the Army Jr. ROTC will present colors, the National Anthem will be played, a firing squad will pay tribute and Taps will be played as well. No featured speakers are scheduled. The service will take place along the Avenue of Flags.
Among those who will be participating is the American Legion Post 51. Joe T. Joseph, State Americanism Chairman for the American Legion, said Commander Loretta Imler along with the Legion’s Honor Guard will be presenting the American and American Legion Post 51 flags during the ceremony.
The VFW Post 47 will also participate in the Sylvan Heights program. Pete Porreca, commander of VFW Post 47, said participants will then proceed to the Dough Boy Statue at the George C. Marshall Monument at the corner of Main and Fayette streets, Uniontown for an 11:30 a.m. service. Porreca said the Post’s 30-piece band will form a semi-circle around the monument to play the Star Spangled Banner and several hymns.
Porreca, who will be speaker during the event, noted red, white and blue flowers will be placed at the monument along with the flag presentation. The Post’s firing squad will pay tribute with the firing of their guns, and two buglers will play Taps. The event will last about 40 minutes. Porreca also noted food and refreshments will be available in the VFW’s hall after the ceremony.
Many veterans will also take part in a parade in Fairchance on Saturday as well as a parade in Smithfield on Monday.
The Fairchance parade will begin at 2:30 p.m. Participants will line up at Shop N Save on W. Church Street and proceed west to the memorial service at Maple Grove Cemetery. About 30 units will participate. Dean Whitmarsh, one of the parade organizers, said Bill Cox from Oklahoma City, Okla., will be the featured speaker.
The Smithfield parade will be held at 2 p.m. Monday. Lineup will be on Liberty Street. Smithfield Mayor Chuck Cieszynski said the participants will proceed to the Mt. Moriah Baptist Cemetery for a memorial service. Cieszynski said the Albert Gallatin Senior High School band will play, and the featured speaker will be 1st Sgt. (Ret.) Lance W. Bedson, who graduated from Fairchance-Georges High School in 1977.
He enlisted in the U.S. Army the same year, and retired from active duty in 2003. Other speakers include Fayette County Commissioner Angela Zimmerlink, the Rev. Pete Malik and others.
Joseph said this has been a busy time with many American Legion members paying visits to homebound veterans.
“We’ve had members visiting several local nursing homes to make sure those who were wounded in battle have not been forgotten,” Joseph said. He also mentioned members traveled to the Walter Reed and Bethesda Memorial hospitals in Maryland and veteran’s homes in the Pittsburgh area.
Additionally, Joseph said the Legion placed about 850 American flags and 50 POW/MIA flags along Main Street in Uniontown that will remain up until Tuesday. Several local Boy Scouts were recruited by the Legion to assist members in placing about 1,500 flags and memorial markers on the graves of all veterans at the Oak Lawn and Oak Grove cemeteries in Uniontown.
“The memorial markers will indicate which war the veteran served in, whether it was WWI, WWII, Korean, Vietnam, Persian Gulf, Dessert Storm or the Iraqi War,” Joseph said. He also noted Legion members will be spending time with several local families who have lost loved ones in war. “We just want to show them how much we care and how much we support them,” Joseph said.
For those who wish to pay tribute to a veteran they know either living or deceased, bricks are still available for the World War II Monument being constructed in front of the Fayette County Courthouse. Joseph said the completion date for the monument is drawing near. For information on the monument, contact Joseph at 724-438-8688.
As the Americanism chairman for the American Legion Department of Pennsylvania, Joseph encourages the public to remember all veterans fallen in all wars, fly the American flag in honor of all veterans, both living and deceased; and remember what the yellow ribbon stands for. “Let’s all do something for our veterans,” Joseph said.