Preparations underway for Summit Hill Memorial Day parade

Preparations for the annual Summit Hill Memorial Day parade are in full swing.

The parade is a four-division parade consisting of bands, schools, nonprofit organizations, emergency services and more.

It begins with a memorial service in Ludlow Park, hosted by American Legion Post 316, at 10 a.m., followed by the grand marshal ringing the former Summit Hill High School bell to symbolize the kickoff of the event at 11 a.m. from the park.

The parade then travels down West Ludlow Street, around St. Joseph Church and up White Street until it ends at the cemeteries on the east end of town.

To help with the celebration, the parade committee is hosting two contests — a patriotic float contest and the annual home decorating contest.

Groups participating in the parade can enter their float in the hopes of winning a cash prize. The deadline to enter the float contest is May 21. Those wishing to enter should contact Tom Vermillion at tom@summithillparade.com or call 570-233-7098.

Summit Hill residents, including those living in White Bear and Mountain Top Road, are also eligible for the home decorating contest.

Homes are judged on their patriotic décor during the parade and winners receive a monetary prize.

The annual Summit Hill Memorial Day Parade has a long history in Summit Hill, dating back more than 100 years.

The town, which is home to 13 cemeteries that serve as the final resting place to hundreds of veterans, gathers each year to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice over the Memorial Day weekend, ending with the annual parade.

It has grown in size over the decades and has become a popular parade for both town residents and the surrounding areas.

Over the years, many Summit Hill men and women have served as the parade’s grand marshal, including Jack Crampsie, Dr. Albert Vermillion, Joseph Carnish, Dr. Dennis J. Bonner, Paul McArdle, James Bennek, Mary Porambo, Kathryn Chickilly, Sophia Porambo, George. S. Davis, Christy Lisella, John F. Rutch Jr. and Bernard Markey.

For more information, visit the parade website at www.summithillparade.com or follow the group on Facebook at Memorial Day in Summit Hill, Pennsylvania.