Here is a roundup of Memorial Day services and ceremonies from around Delaware County as submitted to the Daily Times.
Aldan Members of American Legion Memorial Post 1000, headquartered in the borough, will conduct a memorial service at 10:45 a.m. today at the memorial monument at the corner of Providence Road and Woodlawn Avenue. The VFW Post from Darby will provide its motorcycle color guard and a bugler will sound “Taps.” The Rev. Paul Thompson, pastor of Aldan Union Church, will participate in the ceremony. Refreshments will follow at the Legion Post on Bonsall Avenue. Aston Bonaventure-Clark Post No. 6613 VFW and Killen-Miles 87 American Legion, both of Aston, will hold their annual Memorial Day service at 11 a.m. today. The parade will start at Ahearn’s on Mount Road and proceed to the Monument at New and Mount roads in Aston. The Rev. Michael A. Colagreco, pastor of St. Francis de Sales Church, will give the invocation and will be followed by the “Star-Spangled Banner” played by the Penncrest High School Band, under the direction of Craig Snyder. Other speakers and civic groups will participate in the ceremonial events. The parade will re-form and march to Calvary Cemetery, where services will be concluded. American Legion Post 926 will hold its annual Memorial Day Parade today. The parade will leave the Village Green Shopping Center promptly at 10 a.m. and proceed east on Concord Road to the post. A service will take place featuring the St. James High School Alumni Choir and a 21-gun salute of honor by the Sun Valley High School Marine Corps JROTC. The keynote speaker will be state Rep. Stephen Barrar, R-160, of Upper Chichester. Refreshments will be served following the service. Brookhaven The Memorial Day ceremony for Brookhaven will take place at 8 a.m. today at the Municipal Center Memorial Island with a dedication to the late Mayor Ralph Garzia. The event will feature placing of the wreaths with the “Pledge of Alliance,” followed by an invocation by a priest from Our Lady of Charity. The guest speaker will be Teresa M. Starks, Air Force chief of medical systems development Philadelphia with a rifle salute by the Marine Corps ROTC from Sun Valley. There will also be a retirement of an old and tattered American Flag. Refreshments will be served at the municipal center. Chester Members of the Frederick A. Scott American Legion Post 777 will gather at the post home on Walter Street for a parade at 10 a.m. today to the memorial on Chester Pike for a ceremony. The parade will wind its way through the neighborhood and end at the post home. Chester Veterans Council will help organize a Memorial Day motorcade today that will make stops at various memorial sites throughout the city of Chester and Chester Township. The motorcade will assemble at 7 a.m. at Third Street and Avenue of the States with the firing detail from the Chester Veterans Council. Services will begin at 7:45 a.m. with the motorcade winding their way to several memorial sites that will conclude at 1 p.m. in Chester Rural Cemetery in the Soldiers Circle. Chester Heights A Memorial Day ceremony will be held at Chester Heights Community Park on Valleybrook Road at 9 a.m. today. The Chester Heights Fire Co. will escort the military honor guard. Light refreshments will follow a wreath-laying ceremony. All residents are invited to attend. Clifton Heights The Memorial Day Parade in Clifton Heights will assemble at Baltimore Pike and Oak Avenue at 9:30 a.m. today. The parade will begin at 10 a.m. and march east on Baltimore Avenue to the War Memorial at Baltimore Avenue and Diamond Street. Participating in the parade will be the Highland Bagpipe Band, the Empire Brass Band and the Red Brass Band. After the program honoring veterans with guest speaker Capt. William A. Walsh at the War Memorial, the parade will reassemble and march east on Baltimore Avenue to Marple Avenue. The parade will end at the Polish-American Citizens Club, where food and refreshments will be served. Collingdale The annual Memorial Day service for Collingdale Borough will take place at 10 a.m. today in front of the Collingdale Community Center at 800 MacDade Blvd. The service will be conducted by Mayor Frank C. Kelly, with participating groups including the Collingdale VFW, American Legion, Vietnam Vets Motorcycle Club, Collingdale Fire Co. No. 1 and 2, Collingdale Athletic Club, Collingdale Senior Citizens, Collingdale Alumni Association, Collingdale Police and Fire Bagpipes, as well as other civic groups. The honorable Joseph P. Cronin Jr., president judge of Delaware County Court of Common Pleas, will be the featured speaker. The Rev. Perry Messick, of Collingdale Baptist Church, chaplain of the Collingdale fire companies and Delaware County FOP Lodge No. 27, will serve as chaplain. For more information, contact John Hewlings at 610-586-0500. Crum Lynne (Ridley Township) The American Legion F.A. Scott Post 777 invites all Crum Lynne residents to attend the annual Memorial Day parade today. Kids are encouraged to decorate their bikes and the one with the best decorations will receive a prize. The parade will assemble at 9:30 a.m. at the post, with refreshments and hot dogs provided afterward. The post is located at 137 Walter St., Crum Lynne. Darby Borough The annual Memorial Day parade will take place at 11 a.m. today. Anyone interested in participating should contact borough hall at 610-586-1102. Eddystone American Legion Post F.A. Scott Post 777’s parade and assembly will take place at 9:30 a.m. today at the post. Hot dogs and refreshments will be served in the post hall after the parade. Glenolden Murray Stuart American Legion Post 566, 35 S. Glen Ave., will host a ceremony in front of the post at 11:45 a.m., followed by a parade led by Commander Lawrence Penny and including the Ladies Auxiliary and this year’s Poppy Queen, Allison Billie. The parade will step off at noon from Boon and Glen avenues and proceed up Logan Avenue, onto Chester Pike, right on Glenolden Avenue, left onto Knowles to Glenolden Park, where there will be memorial ceremonies. Mayor Ted Bathhurst and a representative of state Rep. Nick Miccarelli, R-162, of Ridley Park, will be the speakers. Haverford American Legion Post 338 and Disabled American Veterans Chapter 113 will hold a memorial service at 1 p.m. today at their post home, located 2200 Grasslyn Ave. in the Havertown section of Haverford. Following the service, there will be a cookout with hamburgers, hot dogs, sausage sandwiches, salads and beverages. All are welcome &mdash cost is free. Lansdowne The American Legion Harold Carmichael Post No. 578. will uphold its 53-year tradition of decorating graves and war memorials today. Following a 9 a.m. Mass at St. Cyril of Alexandria Church, 153 Penn Blvd., members will decorate the graves of two former pastors, the Rev. John Fallon, a former World War II chaplain, and the Rev. Edmond O’Shea, both of whom are buried on the church grounds. Post members, accompanied by the East Lansdowne police and fire departments, will visit Fernwood Cemetery, Baltimore Pike, and the Triangle Memorial, Long Lane and Lewis Avenue, to lay wreaths at memorial plaques and to commemorate the 1960 campaign stop of President John F. Kennedy at the borough’s monument. Following the solemn observances, members of the legion will return to the East Lansdowne Borough Hall, 155 Lexington Ave., for refreshments for marchers and treats for children. The Lansdowne Memorial Day 5K Run/Walk begins at 8:30 a.m. today at Veterans Mini Park, across from the Lansdowne Theatre. The race, which benefits the Lansdowne Boys and Girls Club, goes through the business district and historic area and finishes before the parade. Marple Township The Maple Newtown Combined Veterans Alliance invites everyone to join in by attending the American Legion parade at 10 a.m. today at Malin Road and West Chester Pike, proceeding to Glenwood Cemetery for memorial services. A second memorial service will take place across the street at Marple Memorial Post No. 805 at 11 a.m., followed by ice cream. A third ceremony, hosted by the Marple VFW Post 7390, will take place at noon at Marple Veterans Memorial Park on Lawrence Road in the Broomall section of the township. At this ceremony, there will be a Walk of Honor around the park to celebrate a brick dedication for deceased veterans. A bagpiper will lead the walk, followed by a rifle salute by the Marine Corp League Detachment 741. After the service, there will be refreshments and gifts for everyone courtesy of the Kish Funeral Home of Broomall. Marple Memorial Post 805 and the American Legion will hold their Memorial Day services at 10 a.m. today at the form CHI School on West Chester Pike and Malin Road. The parade will proceed east on West Chester Pike directly to Glenwood Cemetery, where memorial services will be held. Further services will be at the post at Franklin Gettz Drive and West Chester Pike. Later services will be conducted at the Veterans Park in conjunction with VFW 7390 on Lawrence Road in the Broomall section of the township. Media The annual Memorial Day parade and ceremony will pay tribute to all fallen servicemen and women at 10 a.m. today. The parade will start at State and Edgmont streets and take the traditional route west on State Street to Orange Street onto Front Street. It will end with a ceremony at the courthouse, expected to conclude by 11 a.m. Military units, civic organizations and youth groups will be included in the parade lineup. The event will also serve as an occasion to honor veteran, resident, Baseball Hale of Fame announcer and favorite son, Harry Kalas. Kane Kalas, one of Harry’s sons, will sing “America, the Beautiful” and read a poem written by Harry honoring veterans. The Pennsylvania Museum, 12 E. State St., will also have a special opening today from 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Visitors can tour many of the exhibits and speak with museum volunteers. In case of rain, the events will be moved to the Media Theatre on State Street. Morton Harold Paul Saks Amvets Post 118 of Morton will hold its Memorial Day service at the post home at 211 N. Morton Ave., at 10 a.m. today. Commander Charles Dougherty stated Harry Mirra, past state commander, will be the emcee and U.S. Army Gen. Steven Hines will be the main speaker for the service. At this service, the Amvets will honor all the deceased veterans, members of the armed forces and auxiliary members throughout America. The Amvets will dedicate a flag on this day for a departed veteran, Jack J. Dugan of Springfield. Dugan served in the U.S. Navy from June 1943 through December 1945 as a radioman second class and he received an honorable discharge. During this service, the Amvets will honor local school students for their patriotism in the flag drawing, poster and essay contests. Norwood/Prospect Park Norwood and Prospect Park will hold their joint Memorial Day celebration today. Prospect Park Mayor Don Cook will open ceremonies in front of the Prospect Park Library. The parade will commence at 8:45 a.m. starting at 720 Maryland Ave., and will wind its way to various memorial sites. Services will conclude at the Winona Avenue Monument with Norwood Mayor George McCloskey. American Legion Post 507 and VFW Post 7213 will conduct memorial services at each stop. Ridley TownshipThe Herbert W. Best VFW Post 928 will gather at 10 a.m. this morning at the post home on MacDade Boulevard and Sutton Avenue for services. Participants will parade to Fourth and Sutton avenues for a memorial at the monument there before coming back to the Mound in front of the post home where white crosses were erected to honor each of the deceased members of the post. A bell will ring after the name of each deceased member is called. Ridley Park The keynote speaker at the 10 a.m. Memorial Day ceremonies at Veterans Park on Ridley Avenue will be Lance Cpl. Patrick Teche, a Vietnam veteran of the 3rd Battalion, 26th Marines, Kilo Platoon machine gunner. Also speaking will be Congressman Joe Sestak, D-7, of Edgmont. The ceremony will include introductory remarks by council President Joe Yorke, a welcome by Mayor Hank Eberle and the invocation by the Rev. Michael Smith of the Ridley Park Presbyterian Church. Father Bellopede, pastor of St. Madeline Catholic Church, will offer the benediction. Bob Boland, representing state Rep. Nick Miccarelli, who is currently on his second tour of duty in Iraq as a member of the Pennsylvania National Guard, will present a citation. Wreaths will be placed at the monument in the park, and Raymond Richards will play “Taps” at the end of the ceremony. Springfield The Springfield Memorial Day Parade will start at Veterans Memorial Park, located on Springfield Road above Saxer Avenue, at 10 a.m. today. There will be four wreath-laying ceremonies conducted along the parade route. The parade will stop at the veteran memorials of St. Francis, Old Central School and wind up at the township building. This year’s guest speaker will be U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak, D-7, of Edgmont, with his daughter, Alexandra, leading the “Pledge of Allegiance.” The Springfield American Legion would like to invite all veterans, active duty military, reservists and National Guard members to march in the parade. Should it rain, the legion and VFW will conduct the four wreath-laying ceremonies. For more information, contact legion Commander Rocco J. Polidoro at 610-544-8900. Upland The annual Memorial Day parade will start at Upland Baptist Church at 9 a.m. and take a circuitous route to the War Memorial at Bristol Lord Field at Sixth and Church streets. The ceremony at the memorial starts at 10 a.m. and will include laying of wreaths and a 21-gun salute. The annual community picnic will start at 11 a.m. at the same location. Children’s games, free food and drinks will be available until 1 p.m. Upper Darby The Marine Corps League Upper Darby Detachment No. 884 will meet at 7 a.m. today at the post home, 1026 Providence Road, to begin the motorcade to several cemeteries to honor deceased veterans. Graveside services will be begin 7:30 a.m. at Arlington Cemetery, Drexel Hill, for Marine Cpl. John Mackie, a Civil War veteran and first Marine Medal of Honor recipient, followed by services at graves of recently deceased league members. League members and their families decorated hundreds of military graves at Arlington with flags for the annual event to honor their service to country. All Afghanistan and Iraq War veterans are invited to join in the caravan to visit the gravesites of deceased military at Holy Cross Cemetery, Yeadon, Mount Zion Cemetery, Collingdale, Ss. Peter and Paul Cemetery, Springfield, St. Denis Church Cemetery, Haverford and Montrose Cemetery, Upper Darby. The final ceremony to honor all deceased 884 members will be noon at the post followed by a picnic open to the public. You must be logged in to post a comment. Do not use usernames or passwords from your financial accounts! Note: Fields marked with an asterisk () are required! (children under 13 cannot register) Nick Miccarelli is an member of the doorgun platoon for 2nd Battalion 104th Aviation.
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