Uniontown to host Veterans Day Parade
This year’s Fayette County Veterans Day Parade will be held in Uniontown.
The parade, sponsored by American Legion Post 51, will begin at 10:35 a.m. Nov. 11, with the lineup taking place a half hour earlier on Peter Street, Penn Street and Gallatin Avenue. The parade will proceed west on West Main Street, pausing at 10:55 a.m. for a gun salute by the veterans honor guard and the playing of taps by a bugler from Ben Franklin Middle School. The salute is in honor of all who served in World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq and all armed forces members currently in harm’s way.
“It’s going to be big, almost like the Americanism Day parade,” said George Dextras, Post 51 commander.
Dextras said the parade will include five marching bands, numerous veterans organizations from throughout the county, the Laurel Highlands and Albert Gallatin Junior ROTC units, politicians and local dignitaries, groups including area Scout troops, and police, fire and ambulance services. Dextras said invitations were sent out to area veterans organizations, school bands, Scouts, service organizations and others.
Anyone who did not receive an invitation but would like to participate is invited to join the parade, Dextras said. Dextras said the parade is expected to last between 45 minutes and an hour.
“We’re going to have a nice luncheon afterward, and we want to invite all the past post commanders and Purple Heart recipients so they can be honored,” Dextras said.
Dextras said Gold Star Mother Deborah Hull will speak at the luncheon, with the keynote address given by Madonna Nicklow, the director of the Fayette County Veterans Affairs office.
“It’s an open house. All are welcome. We hope to have at least 150,” Dextras said.
President Woodrow Wilson issued the first proclamation naming Armistice Day, Nov. 11, a holiday. In 1926 President Calvin Coolidge issued another proclamation calling for appropriate ceremonies to be held to mark the day, and, on May 13, 1938, Congress declared Nov. 11 a legal holiday dedicated to the cause of peace. In 1954, the act was amended to replace the word “armistice,” and it has been known as Veterans Day ever since.
The Fayette County Veterans Day Parade is held in either Uniontown, Masontown or Connellsville each year. Connellsville will host the ceremony next year.