How to mark the Memorial Day holiday in Delco
The following ceremonies, services, parades and other civic events are held around Delaware County May 27-29 in observance of Memorial Day:
ASTON
American Legion Post 926, 3220 Concord Road, holds memorial services at 9 a.m. Sunday, May 28, at Rosalie Lane, followed immediately with services at the Five Points intersection. Widener University Army ROTC and Sun Valley High School Marine Corps JROTC cadets participate in the services.
The post’s Memorial Day parade forms at the Village Green Shopping Center on Concord Road between 9:159:45 a.m. May 29. It officially steps off at 10 a.m. The parade marches east on Concord Road to the American Legion Post 926 building. Memorial services are held at the front of the post building shortly after the arrival of all parade participants.
Food and refreshments are served following the service. All are welcome and encouraged to join the post’s Memorial Day observances.
ASTON, MIDDLETOWN
VFW Bonaventure-Clark Post 6613 and American Legion Killen-Miles Post 87 hold their Memorial Day service at 11 a.m. May 29, beginning with a parade from Ahearn’s on Mount Road that proceeds to the monuments at New and Mount roads, Aston.
At the monuments, Father Michael A. Okon, pastor of St. Francis de Sales Church, Lenni, gives the invocation, followed by the Penncrest High School Band performing the national anthem. James Murphy, past commander of the 7th District VFW is the master of ceremonies. Following an address, the combined color guard and firing squad of Post 6613 and Post 87 salutes the dead and Taps is played. Father Gerg Wilson, pastor of Resurrection Episcopal Church gives the benediction.
Following the ceremony at the monuments, the parade reforms and marches to Resurrection Church Cemetery for the conclusion of services. Also participating in the parade and ceremonies are Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts Troop 4 of St. Francis de Sales, and the fire companies of Rocky Run, Chester Heights and Aston.
Middletown Township holds its annual Memorial Day ceremony at the township building, 27 N. Pennell Road, with a service at 8 a.m. May 29. BonaventureClark Post 6613 officiates the service.
BROOKHAVEN
The borough holds its Memorial Day ceremony at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 27, outside of the municipal building, 2 Cambridge Drive. Before the ceremony, the St. James Alumni Choir sings patriotic songs at 9:45, followed by a call to attention by Councilwoman Denise Leslie.
The ceremony begins with invocation by Pastor Ben Grenier of Full Gospel Assembly, the national anthem performed by Lynn Stauffer on trumpet, Pledge of Allegiance by Councilwoman Leslie, and a POW/MIA remembrance by American Legion Post 94 Adjutant Tom Foster and hymn by the St. James Choir.
Post 94 Commander Harry Seth serves as master of ceremonies for a program featuring: Remarks by Mayor Mike Hess and retired U.S. Air Force Col. Todd Zachary; wreath laying ceremony by Boy Scouts with a rifle salute by Sun Valley HS JROTC cadets, and unveiling of a World War I memorial stone by Mary Beth Davis, granddaughter of WWI veteran Antonio DeSanchs. Following the closing of the ceremony, this is a flag burning of retired American flags and refreshments in the community room.
CHADDS FORD, CONCORD, BETHEL
American Legion Brandywine Post 811, 1082 Bethel Road, Garnet Valley, invites the public to Memorial Day services and parades around western Delaware County.
• Brandywine Baptist Church holds Memorial Day services at 8:45 a.m. May 29.
• The Concordville parade begins at 9:30 a.m. at the Springwater Plaza and marches to Elam Methodist Church for services.
• Chester-Bethel Methodist Church holds services at 10:30 a.m.
• The Bethel Parade will begin at 11:15 a.m. at Briggs Auction on Naaman’s Creek Road and marches to the Siloam Methodist Church for services.
COLLINGDALE
Collingdale Borough hold its annual Memorial Day ceremony at 10 a.m. Monday, May 29, in front of the Collingdale Community Center, MacDade Boulevard and Clifton Avenue. The ceremony features members of the VFW, American Legion, Vietnam veterans and Collingdale Fire Co. #1 and #2. Borough organizations and residents place memorial wreaths in front of the All Wars Memorial and the Police and Fire Memorial. All residents are urged to attend.
GLENOLDEN
First Presbyterian Church of Glenolden and American Legion Post 566 of Glenolden host Memorial Day ceremonies at the Knowles Cemetery at 12:30 p.m. Sunday, May 28. The Cub Pack 44 and Boy Scout troop 544 of Glenolden also participate in the ceremony to honor the veterans buried at the cemetery. For information, call the church at 610-583-5432.
LANSDOWNE
Lansdowne American Legion Post 65 and Lansdowne Business and Professional Association co-sponsor the borough’s Memorial Day parade on Monday, May 29. The parade launches from Lansdowne and Lacrosse avenues at 9 a.m. (rain or shine), proceeding north on Lansdowne to Essex Avenue and on to the Penn Wood High School field and World War monuments for ceremonies with veterans. This year’s observances commemorate the 100th anniversary of the U.S. entry into World War I. All veterans and active service members are invited to march with the American Legion Post in the parade. For information, call the post at 610-623-3338.
The community is invited to participate in the 11th annual Lansdowne Memorial Day 5K before the borough’s observances at 7:45 a.m. For information and registration, visit www.lansdownesfuture.org/5k or pick up a brochure at the LEDC office, 23 S. Lansdowne Ave.
MARPLE, NEWTOWN TOWNSHIPS
American Legion Post 805, 2340 West Chester Pike, Broomall, holds its annual Memorial Day Parade at 10 a.m. Monday, May 29 (rain or shine). The event starts at Malin Road and West Chester Pike in Broomall, then heads east on West Chester Pike to Post 805 for a ceremony. The ceremony is expected to begin at 10:45.
World War II Navy veteran Henry Ryder is the Grand Marshal. The parade features veterans from the Post 805, VFW Post 7390 and the Marine Corps League Detachment 741. The Marple Newtown High School Band, Paxon Hollow Middle School Band, Boy Scouts, public officials, fire companies, and ambulance corps from Broomall and Newtown Square participate in the day’s activities.
The public is invited to bring a flag, chair and show their support at the parade and to attend the ceremony. Other ceremonies in the area of Post 805 include an 8:45 a.m. ceremony at the Delaware County Veterans Memorial Monument, 4599 West Chester Pike, Newtown Square, one at 11:30 a.m. Veterans Memorial Park on Lawrence Road, Broomall, conducted by VFW Post 7390, Please be prompt as the ceremonies are approximately 15 minutes long.
NETHER PROVIDENCE
Harold Paul Saks AMVETS Post 118, Morton, holds a Memorial Day service at the Residence at Plush Mills, Wallingford, at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 27. Commander Charles Dougherty and other Amvets along with U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Broze from the Folsom Reserve Center are present. For the past few years, the Amvets have been coming to the center, talking to retired veterans and telling them the progress the military has been accomplishing since their retirement.
Sgt. Broze relays his accomplishments and his many tours of duty at the ceremony. Flags are given to all present, and the Amvets helps the veterans in placing the flags in the Plush Mills garden.
Ginny Valonis recite the famous World War I poet “Flanders Field,“written in 1915. Harry Mirra provides the music and Gerry Egan gives a talk on the American Veterans Org.