VFW state commander to address Memorial Day observance
CONNELLSVILLE – Pennsylvania Veterans of Foreign Wars state commander Dominic A. DeFranco will be the keynote speaker for the city’s May 28 observance of Memorial Day. DeFranco, of McMurray, served 21 years with the U.S. Army before retiring in 1976 at the rank of Sergeant First Class. During his tenure, DeFranco earned the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Expeditionary Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal and other citations and awards.
At the post level, he has served as an all-state post commander, honor guard captain, chairman of the Memorial Day Parade and Service Committee, chairman of the post memorial construction project and as a volunteer for the post ambulance service.
DeFranco has served as a district commander and adjutant at the regional level and as junior and senior vice-commander at the state level along with chairing the state department’s POW-MIA Committee and serving on other committees.
Gerald Browell, Vietnam veteran and former superintendent of the Connellsville Area School District, will serve as master of ceremonies for the program that follows the parade.
Other program participants include the Connellsville Area High School chorus, which will sing the national anthem; the Rev. Mark Juengel, pastor of the Connellsville Presbyterian Church, will deliver the invocation; Stephen Mullaney, Geibel Catholic Middle – High School student and the 2006-07 VFW Voice of Democracy winner, will read the Gettysburg Address; the Connellsville Area High School and Molinaro bands will perform musical selections; Pennsylvania Army National Guard 28th Division, 1st Battalion, 110th MX BN unit and the Rev. Nathaniel Milton will also take part.
DeFranco and Nancy Jones, past state VFW Auxiliary president, will place the wreath at the Veterans Monument and Mary Jane Hay will present the poem “Do You Know Who They Are?”
Participants in the Memorial Day parade, meanwhile, will gather on the city’s West Side at 9:30 a.m.
The Veterans Commission Honor Guard, Molinaro’s Band, classic cars, active duty military recruiters and Connellsville Area elementary school bands will assemble on South First Street.
The second section participants, including VFW Post 21, American Legion Posts 762 and 301, along with the auxiliary vehicles from the organizations, the American Legion Riders, Sons of the American Legion Squadron 301, AmVets Post 111, and Connellsville Area Senior High School Band will line up along North First Street.
The Connellsville Junior High East Band will gather on North Second Street.
The Bradley vehicle escorted by state police, Retired Enlisted Association Chapter 98, POW/MIA retirees and auxiliary and the Connellsville Junior High West Band will assemble on South Second Street.
City, county and state officials along with Fayette County Veterans Affairs Director Don Seroka will line up on North Third Street.
New Haven Hose Volunteer Fire Co. bagpipers, marching unit and vehicles will gather along South Third Street.
The Albert Gallatin ROTC and all Scouting organizations will assemble on South Fourth Street with Connellsville Township Volunteer Fire Co. and other participating fire companies lining up on North Fourth Street.
Riders and their horses are asked to assemble along North Fifth Street.
The parade events will begin at 10 a.m. with a service on the Crawford Avenue bridge for those who died at sea, then proceed to North Pittsburgh Street to the Veterans Memorial for the program.
Ted Davis will serve as officer of the day with Tom Miller as commander. The Pennsylvania Army National Guard 1/110th unit along with Connellsville Area Senior High School students Erica Ellsworth and Eric Long will take part in the bridge program.
“As always, we encourage all retired or active military personnel to join with us,” said Don Burkholder, member of the Connellsville Veterans Commission, “and all residents to come out and show their appreciation to those who have served.”