KULPMONT - Kulpmont Veterans Committee has announced its schedule for Memorial Day activities.
Participants are asked to meet at American Legion Post 231, 856 Ash St., at 9 a.m. A King Coal Tours motorcoach will transport the group to the Veterans of Foreign Wars post home at 823 Chestnut St., for initial pickup and then proceed to St. Casimir's, St. Mary's and Protestant cemeteries for services.
At 10:30 a.m., parade participants will form at the American Legion grounds, Ninth and Ash streets. The color guard will line up first in the 800 block of Pine Street, followed by classic convertibles transporting post officers, honored guests, auxiliary members, clergy and dignitaries. They will be followed by Knights of Columbus Fourth Degree members, Holy Angels cheerleaders, athletes, Boy and Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts and Brownies and East End Fire Company units.
The second division will be the VFW and disabled veterans, followed by the Mount Carmel Area High School Marching Band, including cheerleaders and majorettes. Following will be the Kulpmont West End Fire Company and its auxiliary, then youth football and baseball teams. The next group will be fire and ambulance organizations.
The parade will begin promptly at 11 a.m., heading east on Pine to Sixth Street, south to Chestnut Street and west to 11th Street, where the veterans color guard will exit to Roosevelt Court for ceremony preparation.
All other units will continue to 13th Street, onto Scott Street and east to 11th Street, and then north to the memorial tablets at Roosevelt Court, where services will be conducted.
Kulpmont American Legion Commander Albert J. Goodlunas is master of ceremonies. An invocation will be given by the Rev. Andrew Stahmer, pastor of Holy Angels Church. A prayer for peace will be give by the Rev. Beverly Petrovich, of Kulpmont United Methodist Church.
Veterans chaplain's prayers will be given by VFW chaplain Francis Rakowski and American Legion chaplain Robert Daniels. Mayor Myron Turlis will give a welcome. Mount Carmel Area band will play the national anthem while the flag is raised by veterans Charles Bolesta and Ed Avellino.
A rifle salute will be followed by the playing of "Taps" in memory of 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, President Elizabeth Chapman, Regina Poplaski, Dorothy Andrulewicz, Joyce Durovick, Rosalie Ziegler and Rose Bridgeford. Participating veterans are Commander Albert J. Goodlunas, Andy Bednarchick, Bob Javelle, Chet Gard, Joseph Durovick, Ed Avellino and Rose Koldash.
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 community is invited to participate.
New flags and markers will be placed and repairs 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 as of Saturday afternoon, May 26, is asked to notify members of the parade committee or obtain a flag or marker at the post home.