Memorial Day Parade and Ceremonies
The 44th annual Memorial Day Parade and Ceremonies will be hosted by Poland Township on May 30.
Joe Mazur will be the Grand Marshal for the parade with special guest Frank Bochenek. The keynote speaker of the day will be retired Colonel Brian Kennedy, USMC and the chaplain of the day will be Pastor Reid Lamport from Church of The Rock.
The day will begin with a parade line-up at 8:45 a.m. at Baird Mitchell Field. A memorial service will be hosted at 9 a.m, to honor Squadron 15 Four Chaplains at Post 15 Home. The Four Chaplains included Lieutenants George L. Fox, Alexander D. Goode, John P. Washington and Clark V. Poling. These men gave their life jackets to four others when their ship, the USTA Dorchester, sank after being torpedoed by a German submarine. The Four Chaplains were last seen linked arm in arm when their ship sank into icy black waters. This service is sponsored by Sons of The American Legion Mahoning Valley Squadron 15, American Legion Mahoning Valley Post 15 and American Legion Auxiliary Mahoning Valley Unit 15.
At 10 a.m., the parade will commence at the corner of Lee Street and Cortland Street. The Main Street Bridge Memorial Service for Those Lost at Sea will be hosted shortly after at 10:15 a.m. Memorial Services in Historic Riverside Cemetery will begin at 10:30 a.m.
In case of inclement weather, memorial ceremonies will take place in the Poland Middle School Gymnasium on College Street.
For this year’s Memorial Day Parade and Memorial Ceremonies, Sons of The American Legion Mahoning Valley Squadron 15 is again asking all children to decorate their bikes in red, white and blue, and to ride them in the parade. Parade marshals will be available to show the bicyclists where to go. Children planning to participate need to be at Baird Mitchell Field with their bikes no later than 9:45 a.m.
Squadron 15 is also asking that anyone owning a motorcycle, convertible or an antique or classic car who is interested in participating in the 2016 Memorial Day Parade and Memorial Ceremonies to call 330-565-5333. Vehicles may be used to drive veterans and other dignitaries along the one-mile parade route. Vehicle owners planning to participate should arrive at Post 15 no later than 9 a.m.
Keep in mind that no commercial and/or political units will be permitted to participate. The throwing of candy during the parade and the distribution of any items along the parade route is also prohibited. This is done as a way of honoring the military dead. Those doing so will be denied participation or asked to leave by parade marshals. This Sons of The American Legion Mahoning Valley Squadron 15 policy will be strictly enforced.