From staff reports
Organizations throughout Clarion County have announced plans for Memorial Day observances.
Clarion
American Legion Post 66 and Ross A. McGinnis Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2145, both of Clarion will co-host a Memorial Day service at 11 a.m. Monday, May 28, in Clarion Cemetery on Second Avenue.
Retired Navy Master Chief and American Legion Post Commander James Johnston will be the opening speaker. The Rev. Jason Hunter of the First Baptist Church of Clarion will lead the invocation and benediction.
The Clarion Area High School band under the direction of Chris Curry will play the National Anthem and “Taps,” and the Clarion Community Choir will also provide musical selections.
U.S. Army Sergeant Andrew Waugaman will be the guest speaker.
The American Legion Post 66 Honor Guard will provide the rifle salute and auxiliary presidents from the American Legion and VFW will place the wreath.
Following the services at the cemetery, Naval services will be held at the Wayne R. Weaver Memorial Bridge at Toby.
In the event of inclement weather, the services will be held at the American Legion building.
Following both services, a lunch will be held at the American Legion building at 530 Main Street, Clarion.
For more information concerning the Memorial Day services, contact Commander James Johnston at (814) 226-4146.
East Brady
The following schedules are for American Legion Post 402 in East Brady and Post 488 in Brady’s Bend on Memorial Day, May 28.
American Legion Jones-Connor Post 402 of East Brady: 8:30 a.m. meet at Post 402;9 a.m. at Saint Eusebius Cemetery; 9:30 a.m. at Phillipston Cemetery; 10 a.m. at Carl Curran Bridge in East Brady; 10:30 a.m. at Brady’s Bend Memorial Park; 11 a.m. at the East Brady Memorial Park.
American Legion Bishop-Madden Post 488 of Brady’s Bend: 8 a.m., meet at Post 488; 8:30 a.m., flag raising at Post 488; 9 a.m., Perry Township Memorial Park;9:30 a.m., Robinson Cemetery in Hillsville;10 a.m., Carl Curran Bridge in East Brady;10:30 a.m., Brady’s Bend Memorial Park; 11 a.m., Oak Grove Cemetery; 11:30 a.m., Brady’s Bend Cemetery; noon, Saint Mary’s Cemetery; 12:30 p.m., lunch at Post 488.
Knox
The Berlin Bowser Post 720 American Legion in Knox will hold Memorial Day services Monday, May 28, at the following cemeteries:
9 a.m. – St. Mark’s at Kossuth
9:30 a.m. – Mt. Pleasant at Shippenville
10 a.m. – Providence
10:15 a.m. – Wolf’s Campground
10:30 a.m. – Mt. Joy
11 a.m. – St. Paul Twin Church at Knox
11:30 a.m. – Knox Union Cemetery
The public is invited to attend any of these services.
There will also be a Luminary Celebration of Veterans service held at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, May 27, at Knox Cemetery and will then travel to Knox Community Park for services at 7 p.m.
Lamartine
The DeHart-Rossman-Wenner Post 997 will meet at 7:45 a.m. Monday, May 28, at the community building and proceed to the following cemeteries for services:
8:20 a.m. – Zion
8:45 a.m. – Richland
9:05 a.m. – Crossroads
9:25 a.m. – Starr
9:45 a.m. – Valley
10:15 a.m. – Monroe
10:45 a.m. – Salem United Church of Christ
11:15 a.m. – Salem Lutheran
11:30 a.m. – Veterans Memorial
All legion members and any other service men, auxiliary, Boy and Girl Scouts and other groups wishing to participate are welcome.
A public cafeteria style dinner will be served following the program at the Salem Community Building, benefits of the American Legion Auxiliary.
Also, a memorial program will be held with groups assembling at 6:30 p.m. and services at 7 p.m. Sunday, May 27, at Knox Community Park.
Rimersburg
The Shearer-Shick Post 454 of the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7132 will host Memorial Sunday, May 27, and Memorial Day, Monday, May 28, commemorative services.
Beginning at 3 p.m. Sunday, May 27, at the Veterans’ Park, memorial Bob Carmichael will be Master of Ceremonies for the services. Rev. Tom Switzer, pastor of the Grace Community Church will be the guest speaker and Melody Pryor will sing a special musical selection.
The annual Memorial Day parade will begin at 9 a.m. Monday, May 28, starting at the Rimersburg Elementary School. The program at the cemetery will begin upon arrival of the parade procession.
Union High School marching band, with Lisa Hummel as director, will participate. Terry George will serve as Master of Ceremonies and Rev. Mark Deeter, pastor of Wildcat Wesleyan Methodist Church will provide the invocation, prayer and benediction.
The guest speaker will be Judy Zerbe who is the director of Clarion County Veterans Affairs located in the Clarion County Courthouse.
Three Union High School eighth grade students will participate in the program. Dominika Logue, daughter of Dana and Minnie Logue of Sligo, will recite the “Gettysburg Address,” Aiden Troup, son of James and Erin Troup of Sligo, will recite “In Flander’s Fields,” and Maggie Minick, daughter of Tom and Trista Minick of Sligo, will recite “America’s Answer.”
A special musical selection will be sung by Madison Elder.
In the event of inclement weather, the program will be held at 9 a.m. at Union High School.
Veterans need not be a member of the American Legion or the VFW to participate in either service. Any veteran wishing to be part of the parade but are not physically able to do so should call Commander of the American Legion, Terry Custer at 473-8364 to arrange transportation to and from the cemetery.
Strattanville
The Strattanville American Legion Post 249 will hold its annual Memorial Day service at 10:30 a.m., May 28 at Strattanville legion. In the event of rain weather, services will be in the sanctuary of the Methodist Church in Strattanville.
Fred Lewis, Post commander, will be Master of Ceremonies for the service.
Guest speaker, Bill Black graduated from Keystone High School and Slippery Rock State College.
Black taught at Clarion Limestone for 35 years.
Black served in the U.S. Army Reserve for 25 years.
He attained the rank of command sergeant major. His assignment was senior of the 458th Engineer Battalion headquartered in Johnstown.
He also participated in training hours in Italy and Germany.
Bill’s father, Charles Black, served in the 8th Army Air Force during World War II and was a prisoner of war until the end of the war.
Bill’s granddaughter, Samantha Black, is currently serving in the U.S. Navy aboard the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln as a nuclear power plant operator.
Rev. Jeff Foor of the Strattanville Methodist Church will give invocation and benediction.
Ron Rosser will place the wreath. Clarion-Limestone band, under the direction of Jenn Coast will provide music and local Boy Scouts will lead the Pledge of Allegiance.
Unit’s Chaplain Helen Williams will provide a reading with the names of the American Legion Auxiliary’s deceased members.
Pat Lewis, auxiliary president will present the eighth grade medal to Jessica McCracken, a student of Clarion-Limestone. She is the daughter of Kimberly Merlin of Clarion.
After the service, there will be a luncheon provided with a choice of barbeque pork sandwich and pasta salad for a fee of $5 or hot dog and chips for a fee of $3 at Strattanville fire hall.