GREAT EVENT! Re: Memorial Day Parade...come on out and be a part!

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: I heard good things from lots of people who were at the Memorial Day parade and service at the ampitheater. : The best part? When Nancy Capone was given a plaque honoring the late George Capone's contribution to the Kittanning community. When the speaker requested a member of the family to come forward, the entire family came up. : The worst? There wasn't any. : Patrick, thanks for posting this. : : From the Leader Times : : KITTANNING -- AMVETS Post 13 of Kittanning wanted to bring back the good old-fashioned patriotic parade that was once the heart and soul of Memorial Day celebrations in Armstrong County. : : The recently-formed veterans group decided it would have the kind of Memorial Day parade that comes marching down the street at you with the American flag held high in the air, bands striking up rousing tunes and long columns of veterans showing their pride in having served their country. : : "And lots of citizens lining up the streets waving flags showing the county, state and nation that we support our veterans and honor the memory of those who are deceased," said Vic Stivason, AMVETS Post 13 adjutant. "People are very patriotic, but as Americans we tend to look forward and never behind. We need to reflect back on the price that has been paid for our freedom." : : "That's the reason for this parade," he said. "Kittanning has been 20 years without a parade on Memorial Day." : : On Monday, the local AMVETS (American Veterans) sponsored Memorial Day parade will form at the Kittanning Junior High School on North McKean Street and start marching at 11 a.m. up Vine Street. The parade will proceed onto North Grant Avenue to Market Street, down Market and onto Jefferson Street and Jacob Street to the Riverfront Park. A Memorial Day service will be held at the park at the end of the parade. : : The parade will be held rain or shine but in case of rain, the service will be held at Kittanning Hose Co. 1 instead of at Riverfront Park. : : Armstrong County Common Pleas Court President Judge Joseph Nickleach will be the parade marshal. Local dentist and Army Reserve Col. James Nemec is the main speaker at the Riverfront Park service. Bernie Bowser Sr. will be the parade announcer. : : The Ford City Second Baptist Church choir will sing "America the Beautiful" and "Amazing Grace" at the service. : : Other speakers at the service following the parade are Gerald Shuster, president of Kittanning Borough Council, welcoming people to Kittanning; Armstrong County Commissioner Chairwoman Patty Kirkpatrick welcoming people to the county, and AMVETS Ladies Auxiliary Commander Kim Judge. : : AMVETS Post 13 is joined by its auxiliary, Worthington American Legion Post 828, and the John T. Crawford Camp 43 Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War and its auxiliary in putting on the parade. Those groups will also march. : : There are many other groups and individuals scheduled to participate in the parade including the Kittanning High School Band, Kittanning Hose companies 1, 4 and 6 trucks and firefighters, the U.S. Army Reserves 332nd Engineering Co. vehicles and soldiers, Red Knight Motorcycle group, Armstrong County Sheriff's Mounted Posse, Fort Armstrong Horsemen's Association, Worthington Lionette Marching Corps and local Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts troops. : : County commissioners Kirkpatrick, Jim Scahill and Rich Fink, Sheriff Larry Crawford, District Attorney Scott Andreassi, members of Kittanning Borough Council and representatives from the state police and Kittanning police will be riding in the parade. : : In addition, state and national officials of AMVETS will be attending. : : Candy will be passed out to children along the parade route. : : The AMVETS auxiliary will sell hot sausages, hot dogs, pirogues and soft drinks at the Riverfront Park. : : All veterans are encouraged to march in either civilian clothes or uniforms. Older and disabled veterans who are unable to walk are invited to ride in parade vehicles. : : Sponsors are also asking residents to bring photos of loved ones who served or are currently serving in the armed forces. Those standing along the parade route can bring American flags, although there will be several hundred donated small flags handed out. : : "After Sept. 11, you saw flags everywhere," said AMVETS member and Leader Times writer Tom Mitchell. "Now you don't see any. That's what we wanted to reinstill, that spirit of pride and patriotism." : : AMVETS Post 13 was formed last year and has grown from five to more than 30 members. The national organization is the third largest veterans group behind the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars. : : The local AMVETS post sponsored the parade as a way of helping attain its charter. : : "It helped get our post started by showing the national organization that we had veterans at heart," Stivason said. : : The main goal of AMVETS in Armstrong County is to start an outreach program for veterans. The local group has moved into a leased building on Market Street in Kittanning and the facility is close to opening. : : "It's for veterans needing assistance," Stivason said. "It will give veterans a different avenue to helping themselves and it will be a help to the community."

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