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Alle-Kiski Valley observes Veterans Day | TribLIVE.com
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Alle-Kiski Valley observes Veterans Day

Tanisha Thomas And Brian C. Rittmeyer
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Tanisha Thomas | Tribune-Review
Mark Donahue, commander of Springdale VFW Post 1437, salutes the Porter Street Memorial during a Veterans Day ceremony organized by the Springdale Veterans Association on Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021.
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Tanisha Thomas | Tribune-Review
Members of the Foreign Wars Post 1437 and American Legion Post 764 hold the U.S. flag and their association’s flags during their Veterans Day event in Springdale on Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021.
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Tanisha Thomas | Tribune-Review
Preston Gardner and Mark Donahue of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1437 salute the bouquets and wreath placed in honor of the fallen veterans during their Veterans Day event in Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021.
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Louis B. Ruediger | Tribune-Review
The sun shines through a flag during the annual Veterans Day service at the Lower Burrell VFW on Thursday, Nov 11, 2021. Preston Gardner and Mark Donahue of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1437 salute the bouquets and wreath placed in honor of the fallen veterans during their Veterans Day event in Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021.
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Louis B. Ruediger | Tribune-Review
The annual Veterans Day parade makes its way down Leechburg Road on Thursday, Nov 11, 2021.
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Louis B. Ruediger | Tribune-Review
A gun salute is fired by the Lower Burrell Honor Guard during the annual Veterans Day service at the Lower Burrell VFW on Thursday, Nov 11, 2021.
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Louis B. Ruediger | Tribune-Review
World War II veteran Bill Tingle, 104, of Lower Burrell salutes John Grillo, Lower Burrell VFW chaplin, during the Veterans Day parade in Lower Burrell on Thursday. Many participating in the parade stopped to acknowledge Tingle as he sat in his front yard.
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Brian C. Rittmeyer | Tribune-Review
Vietnam Air Force veteran Jim McFadden, 71, of Lower Burrell and a member of the Arnold American Legion served from 1968 to 1972. He said 35 years passed before someone thanked him for his service. “The very first time anyone said ‘Thank you for your service,’ I was overwhelmed.”
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Brian C. Rittmeyer | Tribune-Review
Gretchen Oberlin, 5, of Lower Burrell salutes with her grandfather, Frank Link, during Veterans Day services in downtown New Kensington on Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021. Link, a Vietnam veteran who served with in Marine Corps, is a former New Kensington police chief and mayor.
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Brian C. Rittmeyer | Tribune-Review
From left, the Rev. Harold Mele, Pat Fraino and Jim McFadden participate in a Veterans Day observance at a memorial in Arnold’s Roosevelt Park on Thursday. Mele served in the Air Force from 1965 to 1971; Fraino in the Navy from 1948 to 1952; and McFadden in the Air Force from 1968 to 1972.

The men and women who have served in the military were honored at several Veterans Day observances in the Alle-Kiski Valley on Thursday.

Veterans Day initially was known as Armistice Day, held on Nov. 11 because that was the anniversary of the armistice that ended World War I in 1918.

Here’s a sampling of the A-K Valley’s observances.

Arnold

Jim McFadden, 71, of Lower Burrell was among a few people who gathered for a service at a memorial in Roosevelt Park. He’s a member of the Arnold American Legion.

“I miss all my buddies that were lost in battle,” he said. Veterans Day “reminds me of all veterans, living and past.”

McFadden was in Vietnam during his service with the Air Force from 1968 to 1972. When they came home, things were bad, he said.

“No one appreciated the Vietnam veterans,” he said. “You couldn’t get a job anywhere.”

McFadden said it was 35 years before someone said “thank you.”

“The very first time anyone said, ‘Thank you for your service,’ I was overwhelmed,” he said.

New Kensington

New Kensington Mayor Tom Guzzo addressed a small gathering at the city’s Gold Star Mothers Memorial.

“On this Veterans Day, we will honor all who answered a call to preserve our country’s freedoms,” Guzzo said. “We honor the men and women who so bravely have served to ensure that the greatness of our country, the rights that we so preciously have and cling to are maintained.

“Their dedication to our country never faltered or wavered. Their courage has kept us safe.”

Springdale

The Springdale Veterans Association held its event at the veterans memorial monument between Porter Street and Pittsburgh Street.

The event began with two minutes of silence to honor the end of the World War I. There were speeches from members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1437 and American Legion Post 764, bouquets and a wreath laid on the memorial, a rifle squad salute and the playing of “The Star-Spangled Banner” and taps.

“This is intended to remember all of our friends and comrades,” VFW Post 1437 Commander Mark Donahue said.

State Rep. Carrie Lewis DelRosso attended the event to thank and recognize veterans for their service.

“This region has a high number of veterans. We have to be active with the military veterans and anyone in the military,” she said.

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