Upland MC League honors past, present of Delco military

The Honor Color Guard of the Delaware County Marine Corps League Detachment #288, Upland, participated in the Delaware Veterans Post #1 Memorial Day Service on Saturday, May 26. The the guest of honor for the ceremony was Lt. General Ronald S. Coleman.

Coleman was born on Aug. 24, 1948. A graduate of Darby-Colwyn Senior High School, Darby, he enlisted in the Navy and served in Vietnam. After two years of service, he returned to Darby as a part-time police officer while attending Cheyney State University. He graduated in 1973 and taught and coached in Darby before returning to the military. He was commissioned as an officer in the Marine Corps in December 1974.

In 2016, Coleman had a street named in his honor — Ronald S. Coleman Boulevard — in his hometown of Darby. Coleman was married to Kathryn Jane Cashion for 50 years and had four daughters. Kathryn Coleman died in 2014.

On Memorial Day, the Honor Color Guard of the Delaware County Marine Corps League Detachment #288, along with the detachment’s ceremonial rifle squad, participated in the annual Upland Borough Memorial Day festivities commencing with a solemn wreath laying ceremony at the tomb of Civil War era veteran Capt. Theodore Blakeley, of Company B. A gallant soldier from Chester, Blakeley was killed at Fort Harrison, Va., Sept. 29, 1864.

Members of Marine Corps League 288 join U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Ronald S. Coleman at a memorial ceremony on Saturday, May 26. Pictured are Gary Novotny, Rich Micolucci, Tom Anderlonis, Coleman, Mike Fleming, Sal Davito and Amy Neiley.

The Honor Color Guard and Ceremonial Rifle Squad of Marine Corps League Detachment #288 preside over a ceremony at the tomb of Capt. Theodore Blakeley, killed at Fort Harrison, Va., in 1864.