Veterans hope for large turnout for Memorial Day service
Veterans would love to see a large crowd of people attend the annual Memorial Day service to honor fallen comrades at Sylvan Heights Cemetery in North Union Township.
The service will take place on the Avenue of Flags beginning at 10 a.m. Monday. The cemetery is located on North Gallatin Avenue Extension.
“The public is invited and we’d love to have a huge crown out there to pay tribute to our fallen comrades and our friends,” said Louis Giachetti, commander of the United Veterans Association of Uniontown, which represents 10 area veterans organizations and is conducting the service. Giachetti will be the master of ceremony and the main speaker. Opening the service will be United Veterans chaplain Jim Clark giving the invocation.
The Laurel Highlands High School Army Junior ROTC Color Guard will post the colors. Uniontown Mayor Ed Fike will give a welcoming address.
United Veterans members will have the massing of flags from various veterans’ organizations and provide the firing squad.
Veteran Tom Stefancin will read Gen. John A. Logan’s General Oder No. 11 of May 5, 1868, in which Logan, the commander in chief of the Grand Army of the Republic, designated May 30 as the day to decorate the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country.
The first Memorial Day was observed May 30, 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va. .
Another veteran, Steve Minnick, will recite the Gettysburg Address.
Representing the Gold Star Mothers, Debbie Hull will place a wreath in honor of the sacrifices of mothers and wives who lost their children and spouses in service to their country. The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8543 of North Union Township’s new band will make its debut performance playing during the service.