Through his work with the Uniontown American Legion, Joe T. Joseph has participated in many Memorial Day celebrations. Joseph says this year it is especially important for Americans to exhibit their support of those in the armed forces.
"Our soldiers need our support. We need to get more people flying the flag and wearing yellow ribbons. Our soldiers who are overseas fighting for our country need to know that the people back home are behind them," Joseph said.
Joseph, the Americanism chairman of the American Legion, Department of Pennsylvania, is encouraging every household to fly a flag or choose another way of showing support.
"People can do something as simple as write a note to a soldier thanking them for their service," Joseph said.
Joseph said it's not essential that people agree politically on the war in Iraq, but it is important to honor the troops.
"Freedom is by no means free. Regardless of your stance on the war, we need to support our troops that are overseas and in harm's way," Joseph said.
Memorial Day observances in the area, which will be held Monday unless noted otherwise, include:
Blairsville
The parade will begin at 10:30 a.m. at Market Street. Memorial services will immediately follow at the Blairsville Cemetery, with graveside tours beginning at noon. Beginning at 1:30 p.m. the Presbyterian Church will begin its Underground Railroad activities, which will run until 3 p.m.
The Blairsville Area Underground Railroad Society members will march in the parade from the Diamond to Blairsville Cemetery. After the special services held there, costumed docents will guide a tour of the cemetery to the graves of local UGRR stationmasters and pioneers in the anti-slavery fight.
Interested participants are invited to the Blairsville Presbyterian Church Social Room on North Walnut Street at 1:30 p.m. for light refreshments and a chance to view the video of the Society's March "Anti-Slavery Rally." The Blairsville Elementary Chorus will sing a selection of songs related to the Underground Railroad movement. A quilt made of pictures submitted by the fifth grade of Blairsville Elementary School will be displayed.
Guided town tours, again led by costumed docents, will be conducted at 2 and 3 p.m. Each tour will be approximately 40 minutes long and will feature discussions with the "people" of 1870 Blairsville as they recall the rescue of a slave named Newton by the townsfolk.
Connellsville
The Connellsville Veterans Commission will hold its parade at 9:45 a.m. The parade also will give the community a chance to welcome home Connellsville's National Guard Unit, which is returning home from Iraq. A ceremony will take place on Crawford Bridge at 10 a.m. to honor those lost at sea. The Connellsville High School and Junior High East and West bands will lead the parade, which will end at the war memorial.
Delmont/Murrysville/Export
Delmont VFW Post 481, White Valley AMVETS Post 85 and Export American Legion Post 858 have planned their 60th annual observances at the following locations:
• 8 a.m., honor roll at Export American Legion.
• 8:30 a.m., Murrysville Cemetery.
• 9 a.m., Hill's Church Cemetery.
• 9:30 a.m., White Valley Cemetery.
• 10 a.m., Ceremony at Twin Valley Cemetery.
• 10:45 a.m., Parade through Export.
• 11:15 a.m., Ceremony at Grandview Cemetery.
• Noon, honor roll at White Valley AMVETS.
Ret. U.S. Marshal Thomas Fitzgerald will speak at the Twin Valley and Grandview cemeteries. White Valley AMVETS color guard and firing squad will provide a rifle salute to all deceased veterans at all locations.
Greensburg/Hempfield
Greensburg VFW Post 33, will conduct ceremonies at 11 a.m. at Westmoreland County Memorial Park, Route 136, Hempfield Township. Prior to the service, the VFW honor guard and accompanying officers will perform a graveside memorial at each of the eight Greensburg-area cemeteries.
Civil War re-enactors, in full dress of the period, will meet at 1:45 p.m. at the main office of St. Clair Cemetery before a 2 p.m. service at the grave of Col. Richard Coulter, who led troops from this area. The 11th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Co. K unit will also visit the graves of other Civil War veterans in the cemetery.
Hecla/United
Services in Hecla will begin at 10:30 a.m. at the Hecla Honor Roll. Wreaths will be placed by AMVETS Post 94 of United, Slovak Sportsman's Club, Hecla Veterans Club and Hecla Volunteer Fire Department. Post 94 will provide the honor guard, firing squad and will play taps. Services will continue in the Shirley Porterfield Memorial Hall with guest speaker Bryant H. Swink, a U.S. Army veteran of Operation Desert Storm.
Irwin/North Huntingdon
VFW Post 781 will hold its parade at 10 a.m. The parade will assemble at the Immaculate Conception Church at Second and Oak streets in Irwin and will move up Main Street and Pennsylvania Avenue to Union Cemetery, where a ceremony will be held to honor deceased veterans. Rose Dvorchak, principal of Norwin Middle School, will speak at the ceremony. The VFW Honor Guard will render a 21-gun salute and play "Taps" at the end of the ceremony.
Jeannette
VFW Post 8240 and American Legion Post 344 will hold services beginning at 9 a.m. at City Hall, where taps will be played and a 21-gun salute will be rendered. Memorial graveside services will be held at four Jeannette-area cemeteries, with the last being at Jeannette Memorial Cemetery at approximately 11 a.m. Keynote speaker is state Rep. James E. Casorio Jr. of North Huntingdon Township.
Kittanning
Downtown Kittanning Inc. will honor Armstrong County service personnel and veterans will be honored at 11 a.m. Saturday with a parade. It will begin on South Jefferson Street at Hose Co. No. 1 and will move up Jefferson to Market Street. A short ceremony will follow the parade.
Mt. Pleasant
The parade will begin on Main Street by the Mt. Pleasant Church of God at 10:30 a.m. The parade will then move down Main Street, stopping briefly at the doughboy monument before moving on to Veteran's Park where a ceremony will be held at 11 a.m. Jerry Yasher, a Vietnam veteran from Norvelt, will be the keynote speaker.
New Alexandria/Salem Township
The New Alexandria American Legion and VFW will hold combined military honors at three locations:
• 9 a.m. Calvary Hill Cemetery, Crabtree.
• 10 a.m. Presbyterian Cemetery, New Alexandria.
• 11 a.m. Union Cemetery, New Alexandria.
Refreshments will be served at the New Alexandria Fire Department after the 11 a.m. service.
Penn Borough
A service and picnic are set for 11 a.m. Saturday. The day will begin with flag and wreath-laying ceremonies at the memorial at Carbon Street. A picnic lunch will be served afterward at the Penn Rod and Gun Club.
Rostraver Township
A service will be held at 9 a.m. at the Old Historic Fells Church Cemetery in Fellsburg. The guest speaker will be the Rev. James Pond.
Scottdale
The parade will start from the Rite-Aid parking lot at 10:30 and move down Broadway toward the Scottdale Cemetery. There a memorial ceremony will be held with former mayor Tim Carson serving as the guest speaker. From the cemetery, the veterans groups will move to the Catholic Cemetery where another ceremony will be held.
Smithton
American Legion Post 790 has scheduled its parade for 12:30 p.m. The parade will begin at Peer and Third streets, and will end with a service at the American Legion Community Park. The invocation and benediction will be given by the Rev. M. Martin, with musical selections provided by the Yough High School band. Keynote speaker will be Michael L. Hummel, a retired military officer and Gulf War veteran with 22 years of active duty service.
South Greensburg/Hempfield
South Greensburg American Legion Post 98 will conduct services at the following locations:
• 9 a.m. Central Cemetery.
• 9:30 a.m. Midway-St. Clair Honor Roll.
• 10:15 a.m. South Greensburg Honor Roll.
• 11 a.m. Hillview Cemetery, in honor of Ron Krause.
• 12:45 p.m. Carbon Honor Roll.
• 1:45 p.m. Roosevelt Club Honor Roll.
• 3 p.m. South Greensburg American Legion Post 981.
Post Commander Arnold Colecchia will speak. Invocation and benediction will be given by post Chaplain Jack Marshal. Julius Falcon will play taps at the 3 p.m. service.
Uniontown
The United Veterans Association of Uniontown will begin its celebration at 10 a.m. at Sylvan Heights Cemetery. Keynote speaker will be Mayor James Sileo. At 11:45 a.m. VFW Post 47 will conduct a memorial service at the doughboy statue at which taps will be played.
Youngstown
The volunteer fire department will conduct services at 9 a.m. at the Baggaley Honor Roll on Karns Avenue, then move to the Youngstown Honor Roll on Main Street for a 9:45 a.m. service. The invocation and benediction will be offered by Pastor Dave von Schlichten. Boy Scout Troop 327 and American Legion Post 982 will place memorial wreaths.
Youngwood
VFW Post 211 will hold its parade at 9:30 a.m. Participants are asked to assemble at Lincoln and North Fifth streets at 9 a.m. The parade will proceed on South Fourth Street to the fire hall parking lot. Members of the VFW and the Armbrust Veterans Association will conduct services at the Youngwood Cemetery Veterans Circle after the parade.
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