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Lowellville Day set for Sunday
By EMMALEE C. TORISK
LOWELLVILLE
Ron Rotunno has his fingers crossed for nice weather Sunday.
That’s when, from 3 to 11 p.m., residents will have the opportunity to come together and celebrate their village by way of Lowellville Day, an annual tradition for many years.
“It’s to keep our heritage going, to keep the village alive and moving,” said Rotunno, chairman of Lowellville Day and a village councilman. “This is just a little thing to end the summer with.”
At 3 p.m., the event’s parade will begin at the high school, 52 Rocket Place, then make its way downtown by 3:30 p.m.
The memorial program will commence there at 3:45 p.m. It will include a performance of the national anthem by the high-school band and a prayer led by chaplain Charles Maholtz Jr. of Lowellville American Legion Post 247.
The centerpiece of the program, however, will be the laying of a single rose on each of the 17 plaques that bear the name, military rank, place of death and age of death of Lowellville natives who died in combat during World War II and the Vietnam War. Family members, escorted by legionnaires, will participate in the ceremony, which will be followed by a 21-gun salute and taps.
Rotunno explained that the plaques previously had lined Liberty Street but were removed and refinished, then installed around the downtown gazebo, in time for Lowellville Day last year. In their former location, they were being weathered by the elements and had taken “a terrible beating.”
“This is a better place for them to be honored,” Rotunno added.
Once the memorial program has concluded, “the festivities [will] start,” Rotunno said.
DJ Mike Romeo will perform from 5 to 7 p.m., followed by Bustin’ Loose from 8 to 11 p.m. A clown and magic show also will take place from 5 to 8 p.m. Local food vendors and games will be set up in the downtown area throughout the day.