Bethel Park Memorial Day Program scheduled

Bethel Park’s Memorial Day Program will honor the fallen on May 31.

The event is open to the public and will consist of a ceremony at the Veterans Memorial, parade and cemetery service.

The ceremony at the Veterans Memorial Plaza in front of the Bethel Park Municipal Building will begin at 7:45 a.m. It will celebrate the 21st anniversary of the Veterans’ Memorial and include comments from local dignitaries including Mayor Jack Allen and council President Timothy Moury and special musical performances. The guest of honor is Lt. Col. (Ret.) Laurence J. Christian, who served as deputy commander and chief of staff of theU.S. Army infantry brigade at Fort Benning, Ga., and is Bethel Park’s municipal manager. There will also be a reading of the names of Bethel Park’s fallen heroes from the American Revolution through today and placing of the wreath.

Next is American Legion’s annual Memorial Day Parade and Cemetery Service. The parade will begin at 9 a.m. at the Municipal Building. It will take a left on Highland; left on Bethel Church Road and end at Bethel Cemetery, adjacent to Bethel Presbyterian Church. Marchers carrying flags representing each service branch will participate and escort riflemen who will serve as an honor guard attending to the flags. Approximately 50 organizations are participating, including the First Frontier Mechanized Calvary featuring Jeeps from the World War II era and a horse-drawn carriage with Betsy Ross and George Washington riding inside. The parade will also feature a variety of other antique military vehicles.

A 10 a.m. service will be held at Bethel Cemetery immediately after the parade. Master of ceremonies will be Scott Barber, commander of the American Legion Post 760. Highlights include patriotic music, comments from local dignitaries and military representatives, recognition of Bethel Park’s fallen heroes and a deceased roll call.

An Air Force C-17 airplane will conduct a flyover at 10:20 a.m.

Christian will discuss what Memorial Day means to him in regard to the time he served in the military, as well as the many individuals in his family who’ve served and are currently serving.

Guests are asked to follow CDC covid guidelines.