Memorial Day parade in Aspinwall to return after pandemic hiatus

A longtime tradition of honoring veterans and celebrating America is returning to Aspinwall. After a two-year pandemic hiatus, the Memorial Day parade and service is scheduled for May 30.

Festivities begin with a ceremony at 11 a.m. outside the American Legion Post 77 along Commercial Avenue.

Mayor Joseph Noro will give an address, and there will be guest speakers. The parade is scheduled to begin at noon.

“It’s a huge tradition here in Aspinwall,” said parade coordinator Barbara Leonard. “Everyone is very, very excited. I think we will probably have around 2,000 people lining the streets. Every street corner will be packed with people. Front porches will have people on them. We’ve always had an excellent turnout in Aspinwall. That’s not a question.”

The route is as follows:

• Commercial Avenue to Eastern Avenue

• Right onto Second Street

• Left onto Virginia Avenue

• Left onto Fourth Street

• Left onto Western Avenue

• Left onto First Street

• Right onto Center Avenue

• Left back onto Commercial Avenue

Aspinwall officials said the borough’s first Memorial Day festivities are believed to have taken place in the early 1900s.

Leonard has been deeply involved in the parade’s preparation the past eight years. She said planning began in August for this year’s event.

About 40 groups and organizations have signed up to participate, the largest expected gathering in recent memory.

“I wanted to make it a little bit bigger, more intense, more characters,” Leonard said. “We weren’t really too sure about (how) the pandemic (would impact participation). I certainly hope that everyone will be safe this May.”

Groups on the parade list include Army reservists, borough police and firefighters, Foxwall EMS, Boys and Girl Scouts, Fox Chapel Area High School cheerleaders and marching band, Pittsburgh Firefighters Memorial Pipe Band, North Hills Historical Auto Club, and people dressed up as dinosaurs and various children’s cartoon and movie characters. Ice carving is also planned in the American Legion parking lot.

Leonard hopes people do not lose sight of what the day is really about.

“You can have all the fanfare that you want, but the most important thing and the reason we do it is to honor our fallen veterans,” she said.

Call 412-781-0213 for more information.