KULPMONT - The Kulpmont Veterans Committee announced plans for the annual Memorial Day parade and memorial service at Roosevelt Court on Monday, May 27.
Participants are asked to meet at 9 a.m. at the American Legion Post 231.
Courtesy of King Coal, a bus will transport the group to the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post home on Chestnut Street for initial pick-up and then proceed to St. Casimir's, St. Mary's and the Protestant cemeteries for graveside services honoring deceased veterans.
At 10:30 a.m., parade participants will start to form at the American Legion grounds, Ninth and Ash streets. The veterans' color guard will line up first in the 800 block of Pine Street. Classic convertibles will transport post officers, honored guests, auxiliary members, clergy and dignitaries. This is the first dvvision.
Next in line will be the Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus, Holy Angels cheerleaders, athletes, Boy and Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts and Brownies. Marion Heights children's sports and Girl and Boy Scout programs are invited to participate, followed by the East End Fire Company and its supplemental units.
In the second division will be the VFW and disabled veterans of the area, following by the Mount Carmel Area High School Band, under the direction of Bernard F. Stellar, featuring the cheerleaders and majorettes of the high school. Following them will be the Kulpmont West End Fire Company and its ancillary and youth football and baseball teams, coaches and staff.
The next group will be the fire and ambulance organizations from the Mount Carmel area, Mount Carmel Township, Marion Heights and Kulpmont, including emergency services personnel and officers.
The parade will begin promptly at 11 a.m., when the Mount Carmel Area band arrives from an out-of-town program.
The parade will proceed east on Pine Street to Sixth, south to Chestnut and west to 11th Street, where the veterans' color guard will exit to Roosevelt Court for the ceremony preparation.
All other units will continue on a west route to 13th Street, left to Scott Street and east to 11th Street, and then north to the memorial tablets at Roosevelt Court, where Memorial Day services will be conducted.
Participants
Albert J. Goodlunas, American Legion commander, will be the master of ceremonies. Invocation will be given by the Rev. Andrew Stahmer, pastor of Holy Angels Church. A prayer for peace will be offered by the Rev. Beverly Petrovich, of Kulpmont First United Methodist Church.
Veterans' chaplains prayers will be given by Francis Rakowski, VFW chaplain, and Robert Daniels, American Legion chaplain. Kulpmont Mayor Myron Turlis will give a welcoming address. The Mount Carmel Area High School Band will play the national anthem while the flag is raised by veterans Charles Bolesta and Ellsworth Puddy.
A rifle salute will be followed by the playing of "Taps" in memory of all deceased veterans. Benediction will be given by the Rev. Alfred Bashore, minister of All Saints Lutheran Church.
This year's parade committee includes American Legion Auxiliary members: Elizabeth Chapman, president; Rosalie Ziegler, vice president; Regina Poplaski, treasurer; Carol Patton, secretary; Dorothy Androwleski, historian; Florence Willard, sergeant-at-arms, and Joyce Durovock, member. Veterans committee members are Goodlunas, Daniels, Adjutant Rose Koldash and directors Andy Bednarchick and Kenneth Sieklicki.
In the event of rain, the services will be held at the American Legion grounds, where refreshments will be served to all parade participants.
The public is invited to participate in the ceremony.
Flag placement
New flags and markers will be placed, and repairs will be made at all cemeteries in Marion Heights and Kulpmont, starting at 9:30 a.m. today. Anyone who knows of a grave that is unmarked by Saturday afternoon, May 25, is asked to notify members of the parade committee or obtain a flag or marker at the post home.