Memorial Day weekend plans finalized in Summit Hill

Carbon County’s largest tribute to America and its military, past and present, will take place on Monday, when the Summit Hill Memorial Day Parade Committee hosts its annual parade.

The event will start at 11 a.m. on Ludlow Street in the center of town, proceed west around St. Joseph Catholic Church of the Panther Valley, and then head east for the entire length of White Street, disbanding at the cemetery complex in that sector of the town.

Ninety-year-old John Majez, who served in the Army post World War II, will serve as the grand marshal for the four-division lineup. Following the 10 a.m. memorial service in Ludlow Park, Majez will ring the old Summit Hill High School bell that is located in Ludlow Park, signaling the start of the parade.

Memorial program

The festivities actually start at 10 a.m. in Ludlow Park, where The Davis-Lawton-Yurko-Breslin-Bevich American Legion Post 316, Summit Hill, will hold its traditional Memorial Day program.

Post Commander W. Kevin O’Donnell will be the master of ceremonies for the program, which will feature Summit Hill native Bruce Frassinelli of Schnecksville as the keynote speaker. Frassinelli spent nearly 60 years in the communications and education fields and is a former Pulitzer Prize nominee.

The Rev. Allen Hoffa, pastor of St. Joseph Catholic Church of the Panther Valley, Summit Hill, will ask the invocation and pronounce the benediction during the service.

Student orators from Marian High School, Hometown, will include Keith McCall, Katrina Horvath, Brian Smith and Colin Rehnert, who will recite Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, “In Flanders Field” and Logan’s General Orders.

Paul R. McArdle Sr., past commander and the current mayor of the community, will offer the welcome and lead a POW/MIA ceremony.

After the message by Frassinelli, Gregory Miller, Post 316 chaplain and a past commander of the post and the Carbon County Inter-Post Association, will read the roll call of deceased veterans with the drummer to be provided by the Panther Valley High School band.

Members of Post 316 and its Sons of the American Legion will provide the honor guard salute and a high school bugler will play taps. The flag lowering will be done by the Panther Valley High School JROTC cadets.

Majez will offer remarks, followed by O’Donnell’s introduction of other dignitaries and closing remarks and the benediction.

White Bear service

The annual memorial service at St. Joseph Cemetery, White Bear, will take place at p.m. Sunday. The keynote address will be offered by Vince Suzadail of Summit Hill, retired, U.S. Navy and Navy Reserves.

The program will follow the Summit Hill agenda, with O’Donnell to be the master of ceremonies; the same student orators offering messages; Chaplain Miller to read the and Hoffa to ask the invocation and pronounce the benediction.

Parade lineup

The festivities will be followed by the parade, which will start promptly at 11 a.m. after Majez rings the his alma mater’s old school bell. The lineup is:

First division: (form on Ludlow Street, from Walnut to Market streets, and Market Street, from Ludlow to Hazard streets) Summit Hill Police, Grand Marshal John Majez, Summit Hill American Legion Post 316, Summit Hill American Legion Auxiliary Unit 316, 2018 Poppy Queen Catherine Breslin, American Legion 30th District Commander, Summit Hill Sons of the American Legion, Summit Hill Mayor Paul McArdle, Summit Hill Historical Society, Summit Hill Water Authority, Summit Hill Heritage Center, Panther Valley High School marching band, Panther Valley High School cheerleaders, Panther Valley High School JROTC, Carbon County Commissioner William O’Gurek, Summit Hill Hootenanny, Anthracite Little League, Summit Hill Girls’ Softball, Hope of Christ Presbyterian Church, Shining Stars Pre-School and Summit Hill Diligence Fire Company No. 1.

Second division: (form on Ludlow Street, from Market to Chestnut streets) Schuylkill-Carbon Marine Corps League, Nolan Ritchie Stay Afloat Foundation, Carbon County Sheriff’s Department, Rep. Jerry Knowles, Jim Thorpe Ancient Order of Hibernians, Jim Thorpe Area High School marching band, Yuengling Beer Wagon, Heisler’s Milk Wagon, PA Outdoor Veterans Inc., Panther Valley cheerleaders collecting for 2018 parade, Dance Explosion, Parents Against Bullying/Children Against Bullying, Pennsylvania National Guard-Lehighton, Northeast Variety Band, Carbon County Commissioner Wayne Nothstein, Lehighton Fire Department, Lehighton Ambulance, Lansford Ambulance, Lansford Fire Company, Nesquehoning Fire Company, Nesquehoning Ambulance, Mahoning Valley Ambulance and Mahoning Valley Fire Company.

Third Division: (form on Ludlow Street, from Market to Chestnut streets): Civil War Unit, 81st PA Volunteers, Coaldale VFW, Coaldale VFW Auxiliary, Coaldale American Legion, Blue Eagle Drum and Bugle Corps, Carbon County Navy Club, Pennsylvania National Guard-Hometown, Storm All Star Cheerleaders, Panther Valley Youth Soccer, Grace Community Church Vacation Bible School, St. Luke’s Healthstar Van, Mauch Chunk Coffee, Jeff Reigel’s 1979 Pierce firetruck, The Dance Factory, Sgt. Nick Heist and Co. Army Jeep, Cairngorm Pipes and Drums, New Columbus Fire Company, East Penn Fire Company, Tamaqua Rescue Squad, Citizens Fire Company, Bowmanstown Fire Company and Franklin Township Fire Company.

Fourth Division: form on Ludlow Street, from Chestnut to Oak streets): Lansford American Legion, Lansford American Legion Auxiliary, Panther Valley Riders, Lansford AMVETS, Lansford Mayor Jim Romankow, Lansford Police, Lansford Girl Scouts and Brownies, Lansford Boy Scouts, Cub Pack 765 of Panther Valley, Clay and Tom, Carbon County United Way, Carbon County School for the Performing Arts, Stanley Zabo’s Antique Cars, Shenandoah Valley High School Marching Band, JT Farms, Coaldale Ambulance, Coaldale Fire Company, Hauto Fire Company, Hometown Fire Company, Tamaqua Ambulance, Laurel Fire Company, Weatherly Ambulance, New England/Walker Township Fire Company and Albrightsville Fire Company.