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By Jill Runfola

On Veterans Day, November 11, 2017, the date marked the 98th year the Monongahela Veterans Council hosted the Veterans Day Parade for Washington County.

Pictured are a group of The Mon Valley Leathernecks, mostly from Claysville.

The event began on the chilly afternoon precisely at noon in Monongahela all through downtown involving Main St.

The parade included: stagecoaches from Bentleyville and Eighty Four with a case from WWI; drums and bagpipe; veterans service organizations from all over the Mon Valley; vintage trucks; high school bands; and most importantly, local veterans. The big parade ended with local fire trucks and emergency responder vehicles. Weeks before, the preliminary count was 180 parade participants, and on the day of the event, the crowds really turned out!

The day began with a 9:30 a.m. veterans program at Chess Park in town with LTC Lawrence Kerr as guest speaker, who also served as Grand Marshall. LTC Kerr is an Army veteran who served with the Judge Advocated Generals Corps in Germany and at the Pentagon in Washington DC. Later, in the Army Reserves, he served as Commander of the 125th Individual Mobilization Unit. Today, he practices law in Greensburg.

It began with the National Anthem, performed by Ms. Kim Van Vooris. Rev. Ravazio said a prayer. Mayor Bob Kepecs gave opening welcome remarks. After the keynote speech with Kerr and benediction by Rev. Ron Ravazio of Journey by Grace Church, the program concluded with ‘Taps’ and ‘Three Valley Rifle Salute’ by the Mon Valley Honor Guard and Firing Guard.

The Mon Valley Honor Guard, with American Legion Posts from Carroll Twp., Finleyville and Monongahela, marched in the parade.

The following groups make up the Mon Valley Veteran’s Council: American Legions: Posts 302, 949, and 613; VFW 1409; Mon Valley Leathernecks; Forty and Eight organization; and Mon Valley Shipmates. Invited dignitaries in the parade included State Representatives Camera Bartolotta, Larry Maggi and Rick Saccone; County Commissioners Diana Irey Vaughn and Harlan Shober; former Congressman Murphy; the Washington County sheriff; Washington County judges, and Susan Meighan.

The parade is rotated annually among the towns of Washington, Monessen, Charleroi, Donora, and Monessen, sponsored by the Veterans Council of that community. In charge of the 2017 Veterans Parade is David Thompson, General Chairman of Mon Valley Veteran’s Council and Monongahela American Legion Post 302 Commander. He said, “We’ve got almost 100 years of tradition in this. I think the county will be impressed.”

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