As the nation prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary later this year, many local communities are getting ready for a more immediate recognition of the men and women who fought for the country.
Aspinwall, Blawnox, O’Hara and Sharpsburg are hosting Memorial Day parades and services on May 25.
Leaders of the events talked about their respective plans and beautification efforts leading up to the day.
Aspinwall
New flowers and flags recently were planted at the memorial outside American Legion Post 77 in Aspinwall.
The post will host a service at 11 a.m.
Guest speakers include Aspinwall Mayor Scott Zimmermann, Fox Chapel Mayor Jonathan Colton and veteran Bill Jakovac.
Rabbi Yaier Lehrer of Adat Shalom will deliver the invocation. The Rev. Michael Ackerman of Resurrection Parish will deliver the benediction. Local musician Nathan Clark will play taps.
A military flyover is being coordinated by retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Joe Posnik.
Parade lineup starts at 11:15 a.m. at Alley A and outside the borough building along Commercial Avenue.
Parking in the borough lot and at Farmers Bank will be reserved for parade participants. The parade starts at noon.
The route is from the American Legion, left onto Eastern Avenue, right onto Second Street, left onto Virginia Avenue, left onto Fourth Street, left onto Western Avenue, left onto Second Street, right onto Center Avenue then back onto Commercial Avenue.
About 30 groups have signed up to be in the parade. Among them are local police, fire and EMS departments, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Pennsylvania Dinosaurs, Fox Chapel Little Foxes, Fox Chapel Area High School Marching Band, North Hills Historic Auto Club, Fox Chapel Area Baseball Softball Association and the Pittsburgh Firefighter Memorial Pipe Band.
Barbara Leonard is in her 11th year as Memorial Day coordinator.
“It’s not easy,” she said. “People want a follow-up and this, that and the other thing. It keeps me busy. People come from everywhere.”
Leonard likes to add cartoon characters to the event as a way to help entertain children.
“Last year, I had Bluey and the kids went crazy,” Leonard said. “This year, I thought I’d theme it up with Disney because a lot of kids can’t get to Disney World and things like that. I thought I would (invite) Mickey, Minnie and Stitch. The kids will be able to have a meet and greet (with the characters).”
Multiple parade participants are expected to be giving out candy.
Leonard worked at St. Francis Hospital of Pittsburgh for more than 30 years and helped start its echocardiology program.
Part of that time was with doctors who served during the Vietnam War in Mobile Army Surgical Hospital units.
Leonard said main theme of the day will not be lost on anyone.
“It’s to honor our deceased veterans,” she said. “It’s not just for parades and candy. It’s for those that have lost their lives, and we should be grateful for that and people need to understand that.”
Blawnox
Blawnox Manager Cory Dennison said military banners recently were installed along borough streets, and new non-invasive trees were planted along Freeport Road with the help of TreeVitalize earlier this year.
This is Dennison’s first Memorial Day celebration in Blawnox. He and Councilwoman Katie Specht-Coban are co-event chairs.
Specht-Coban has been involved in parade organization for 25 years despite having no direct family military connection. She also serves as its marshal.
“This is a passion of mine to give back to people who have sacrificed their lives or their time to make us a wonderful country,” Specht-Coban said May 11.
“If we don’t recognize how we got to be 250, then we won’t have another 250.”
Freeport Road from Boyd Avenue to Center Avenue will be closed from about 9:45 a.m. to noon on Memorial Day.
Parade lineup is set for 10 a.m. next to the Sunoco gas station along Freeport Road.
Parade starts at 11 a.m. and goes down Freeport Road to the veterans monument at North Avenue.
Groups expected to participate include the Fox Chapel Area High School marching band and cheerleaders, borough council members, Pittsburgh Samba Group, Blawnox Garden Club, as well as emergency responders and veterans from the borough and surrounding municipalities. Artists from the nonprofit Band Together are expected to march. Vintage vehicles also will roll in the parade.
A service will take place at the monument site across from Hoboken Presbyterian Church.
The Rev. Amy Newell of Hoboken will deliver the invocation. Taps will be played.
Guest speakers include Blawnox Mayor Anthony Gross and state Rep. Mandy Steele, D-Fox Chapel.
Hot dogs and refreshments will be served afterward.
Organizers said they anticipate a big turnout and are hoping for good weather.
“The response has been good,” Dennison said. “All the local organizations are happy to help. It’s a little difficult when there’s a lot of Memorial Day parades in surrounding areas, but we continue to plan and we think we’ll have a good event. The community will celebrate with our veterans and have a good time.”
People can still sign up to be in the Blawnox parade by calling the borough office at 412-828-4141.
Sharpsburg, O’Hara and Etna
Sharpsburg, O’Hara and Etna are hosting a joint Memorial Day parade, with a free gift for parade attendees.
The parade will begin at 9:30 a.m. in Etna and is expected to reach Sharpsburg around 9:40 a.m.
The Sharpsburg route will run from North Main Street, Main Street, Guyasuta Statue and North Canal Street to O’Hara. The O’Hara route will run from Kittanning Pike to the Pleasant Valley Fire Department.
Sharpsburg Manager Christine DeRunk said the parade is an important way to honor and mourn the military personnel who made “the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.”
“Many Sharpsburg residents served honorably across the branches of the military, and this is one way for the community to come together to show our respect and appreciation for those who came before us and taught us that the cost of freedom is not free,” she said.
Prior to the parade, a weeklong series of events includes wreath-laying, a church service and flag placement.
Volunteers are sought to help place flags on veteran graves at 5 p.m. Tuesday, May 19, at Greenwood Cemetery with VFW Post 709. Volunteers can meet at 6 p.m. Friday, May 22, at St. Mary’s Cemetery with American Legion Post 106.
At 5 p.m. Saturday, May 23, there will be a Mass and service at St. Nicholas Church in Millvale. At 10 a.m. Sunday, May 24, American Legion members will meet at the post on North Canal to lay wreaths at the Sharpsburg War Memorial.
Sharpsburg Mayor Kayla Portis said the parade has always been meaningful for residents.
“It is a time for our community to come together to honor the sacrifices and contributions of our fallen soldiers, as well as recognize the brave men and women who continue to serve our country today,” Portis said.
“Their courage, dedication and commitment to protecting our freedoms mean everything to us at the borough. We are deeply grateful for the sacrifices made by our veterans and active service members, and we proudly stand together in remembrance and appreciation.”