5-division parade honors veterans in Carbon County

The annual Carbon County Veterans Day Parade in Lansford gave a most impressive tribute to military veterans on Sunday.

The five-division parade was hosted by Lansford American Legion Post 123 and featured six bands, marching units from virtually every military-related group in the county, Scout units, floats and fire apparatus.

The hourlong parade was held on the 100th anniversary of the ending of World War I.

“It makes you feel proud,” said Weatherly Mayor Tom Connors, about the parade and the turnout of spectators.

The Lansford Legion featured one of their own as the grand marshal.

Vietnam War veteran Joseph “Joey” Nichols, who served as commander of the post in 1998 and 1999, led the parade riding in the front seat in a shiny red convertible.

Nichols, a retired Marine, did more than 200 mine sweeps during a 12-month tour of Vietnam.

The Summit Hill resident is married to the former Andrea Palkendo. He has two stepchildren.

Every high school band in Carbon County — Panther Valley, Jim Thorpe, Palmerton, Lehighton and Weatherly — marched in the parade.

The division banners for the parade were carried by members of the Panther Valley High School JROTC. The group also had a large contingent of marchers.

The march was held under sunny skies.

Chief of Police Jack Soberick and Lansford Mayor James Romanko were followed by members of the Lansford American Legion Post.

Every American Legion Post in the county was represented.

A sampling of some other organizations were the Carbon-Schuylkill Marine Corps League, Vietnam Veterans of Carbon County and a Submarine Club which had a submarine replica in the line of march.

Lansford Boy Scouts wore cardboard cutouts shaped like military vehicles and American flags.

All three Carbon County Commissioners took part. Commissioners William O’Gurek and Thomas J. Gerhard marched.

Commissioners’ Chairman Wayne Nothstein rode in a firetruck with the Lehighton Fire Department, of which he is a longtime member.

The Perseverance Jazz Band, led by military veteran Henry Long of Lehighton, played music from a float along the parade route. All five county high school bands participated.

Connors said, “I think it was a great parade. It was nice to see all the people come out and support the veterans.

The bands were excellent. The fire companies and the different groups participating also made you feel proud.”

Frank Navratil of Mahanoy City attended the parade with his friends, Richard and Debbie Pogwist of Lansford. Navratil, who served with the Marines and was in Beirut in 1983 when the truck bomb killed military in a headquarters building, said, “It’s a very nice parade and a lot of people watching it. It makes us (veterans) feel welcome.”