For some, Memorial Day is celebrated as the unofficial beginning of summer, but it should also be a day to celebrate and thank those who made the ultimate sacrifice to guarantee our freedom.
From big parades to small-town picnics, no one is left out of the host of celebrations and activities taking place during this long weekend in Schuylkill County.
In one of the older traditions in the county, Saint Clair will hold its Grand Army of the Republic program at the Saint Clair Area Elementary/Middle School gym at 1 p.m. Sunday, performed by the Saint Clair Area National Junior Honor Society. Guest speaker will be author Robert Kauffman, whose book, "The Repacement," chronicles his coming of age as an 18-year-old who began his military career during World War II, his first posting was to Normandy 10 days after the start of that invasion.
"We are excited to have him at this. We have always had a great program," said organizer Frank Homa Jr. "We have had this program for well over 50 years. I attended it when I was a student at Saint Clair High School, and I am 78 years old."
Mahanoy City will also hold a GAR service, a church service and parade to honor the fallen.
The church service will begin at 11 a.m. at St. Paul's United Church of Christ, Main and Pine streets. The Rev. John H. Reid will conduct the service in honor of all deceased veterans of the past year in the greater Mahanoy City area.
Immediately afterward, there will be a short program with rifle salute at the German Protestant Cemetery's GAR plot in Mahanoy Township and at 1:30 p.m. a program will be held at Veterans Memorial Park, Centre and Catawissa streets, followed by the main program at 2 p.m. The keynote speaker will be retired Lt. Col. Ralph Butera, who is a 29-year veteran of the military, having served in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard, the Army Reserves and on active duty. In case of rain, the program will be held in the Citizens Fire Company, 210 W. Centre St.
The parade - beginning at 11 a.m., forming at the Mahanoy Area School Complex at 10:30 a.m. - will consist of three large divisions of more than 40 units of bands and organizations, and will be held rain or shine. The grand marshal will be William "Bill" Paul, retired first sergeant.
The tiny borough of Gordon will award residents for decking out their homes in honor of veterans. The Friends of Gordon Patriotic Themed Home Decorating Contest began Thursday and winners will be announced Monday. A parade will be held at 9:30 a.m. Monday beginning at Borough Hall, Plane and Otto streets, with an honoring ceremony to follow at the borough building.
"The whole borough gets involved," Mayor Nick Troutman said.
In New Philadelphia, County Coroner Dr. David Moylan and Chief Deputy Coroner Dr. Joseph Weber will honor all lost loved ones by hosting a tree-planting ceremony. One tree will be planted in memory of adults and another in memory of children who have been lost this year. The ceremony will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday at the Simon Kramer Institute, 15 Alliance St.
In the larger communities, such as Frackville, Memorial Day parades will be the order of the day. Most, like Frackville's, will be followed by or kicked off with speeches and honoring ceremonies. Frackville's parade starts at 9 a.m. Monday, with the program to follow at 9:30 a.m. at Memorial Park, Spring Street.
Mayor Kim Phillips said they will be honoring eight veterans, including two from the Civil War, all with ties to Frackville. The guest speaker will be Professor Jonathan A. Noyalas, Martinsburg, W.Va., a Frackville native and son of Arlene and Robert Noyalas, Frackville.
"The Frackville Recreation Board is extremely excited about this year's event and has worked extremely hard to make it a success," Phillips said.
These and many more ceremonies offer communities the chance to come together to honor their loved ones and their heroes. AUBURN - Parade starts 11 a.m. Monday. In case of inclement weather, parade canceled, service held at 11:30 a.m., Auburn Church of God, Market Street.
Memorial Day events
CRESSONA - Parade starts 9:30 a.m. Monday, forms 9 a.m., SAPA parking lot. Program will follow at Legion Plaza. Guest speaker Charles Strause, former mayor.
FRACKVILLE - Parade starts 9 a.m. Monday, forms 8:45 a.m. at M&T Bank, Lehigh Avenue, ends at Memorial Park, Spring Street, where program will begin at 9:30 a.m. Guest speaker Professor Jonathan Noyalas.
FRACKVILLE - Memorial services for deceased members of American Legion Post 398, 8:30 a.m. Sunday, St. Ann Roman Catholic Church, 49 N. Line St. Legionnaires, Sons of the Legion and Legion auxiliary. Post Honor Guard and Legion auxiliary honor veterans at cemeteries at 6:30 a.m. Monday.
GIRARDVILLE - Parade 11 a.m. Monday, followed by ceremony at Veterans Memorial, Third and Ogden streets. In case of rain, services will be held at the Legion post home, 122 W. Main St.
GORDON - Parade begins 10 a.m. Monday, followed by program at Gordon Fire Company. Conducted by Friends of Gordon.
LLEWELLYN - Parade begins 8 a.m. Monday, Llewellyn Elementary School, followed by ceremony at 10 a.m., Friedens Lutheran Church, Church Road. Sharon Hassan will be guest speaker. Celebration of Veterans at Veterans Memorial, conducted by Union Church, Phoenix Park, will follow. Rain cancels parade with ceremony moved to school's auditorium.
MAHANOY CITY - Church service 11 a.m. Sunday, St. Paul's United Church of Christ, Main and Pine streets. Parade 11 a.m. Monday. Program 2 p.m., Veterans Memorial, Centre and Catawissa streets. Guest speaker retired Army Lt. Col. Ralph Butera.
MINERSVILLE - Parade starts 9 a.m. Monday, assembly 8:45 a.m., North Street. Ceremony follows at Veterans Memorial, South Fourth Street, with presentation of Citizenship Award.
NEW PHILADELPHIA - Parade starts 8:30 a.m. Monday, forms 8 a.m. at post office, with service following at Memorial Square. Guest speaker Commissioner George Halcovage Jr.
ORWIGSBURG - Parade 8 a.m. Monday, kicks off from Memorial Building, ceremony follows at Centre Square.
PALO ALTO - Services 1 p.m. Sunday, Palo Alto Monument. Guest speaker Lt. Col. Starr Seip.
PINE GROVE - Parade begins 9 a.m. Monday at Brickyard and continues to St. John's Lutheran Cemetery for memorial service at 9:50 a.m. Guest speaker Capt. Jeremy M. Coleman. In case of rain, service held 10:15 a.m., lower level of Pine Grove VFW.
PORT CARBON - Memorial Day church service, 6 p.m. Sunday, First United Methodist Church. Parade begins 9 a.m. Monday with ceremony following at Veterans Memorial Park.
RINGTOWN - Service, 10 a.m. Monday, Old White Church, conducted by Harry A. Kase Ringtown American Legion Post 289 and Ladies Auxiliary. Guest speaker Master Sgt. Dennis Ward.
SAINT CLAIR - Program, 1 to 2 p.m. Sunday, Saint Clair Area Elementary/Middle School, 227 S. Mill St. Guest speaker Robert F. Kauffman. Sponsored by Saint Clair Veterans Welfare Council.
SCHUYLKILL HAVEN - Parade starts 10:30 a.m. Monday, forms 10 a.m., Ambulance Building. Memorial Day service on Parkway immediately following.
SCHUYLKILL HAVEN - Service, 1 to 2 p.m. Monday, Vietnam Memorial, Route 61. Conducted by Veterans of Vietnam War Post 29.
SELTZER - Service, 8:30 a.m. Monday, Seltzer Memorial, conducted by Walter Griffiths AMVETS Post 180.
TREMONT - Services, 9:15 to 11:30 a.m., starts at Donaldson Cemetery, ends at Tremont Reformed/Lutheran Cemetery. Sponsored by Tremont American Legion Post 384, Sons of American Legion, ladies auxiliary and Tremont Community Organization.
WILLIAMSTOWN - Parade begins 9:45 a.m. Monday, forms 9:30 a.m., Sovereign Bank parking lot. Services follow at Veterans Memorial Park. Sponsored by Williamstown American Legion Post 239 and Williamstown VFW Post 6497.