Fitting salute: Media struts its stuff with Vets Day Parade
Delaware County Veterans Day Parade honors 100th Anniversary of the American Legion
MEDIA » Delaware County showed their love for veterans Monday. Crowds of people lined State Street some as many as three deep to celebrate the 60th annual Delaware County Veterans Parade.
The parade officially began on the 11th minute of the 11th hour of the 11th month, that being the time the armistice that ended World War I was signed, with a short ceremony in front of the Borough War Memorial. Veterans fire a multi-gun salute and taps was played before stepping off to the County Courthouse where a longer program was held.
The parade, which is considered the largest in the state, featured multiple bands and dozens of veterans’ organiza
tions. Elected government officials and dignitaries including U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, state Rep. Margo Davidson, R-164 of Upper Darby, newly elected County Council member Christine Reuther, District Attorney Kat Copeland as well as others marched together.
The 2019 Grand Marshal of Delaware County’s Veterans Day Parade was Robert John, state commander of the American Legion, which is commemorating the American Legion’s 100th anniversary this year.
Retired Pennsylvania State Policeman Lt. Kevin Pierce, sang The National Anthem as students unfurled a giant American flag at a ceremony in front of the Delaware County Courthouse.
Winners of the Essay Contest read their entries on “Why veterans should join the American Legion” were announced. They were Rohan Gurney, of Springton
Lake Middle School,3rd place; Lylah Hoque, of Beverly Hills Middle School, 2nd place; and Luke McGovern of St. Bernadette School won first place McGovern pointed out that the American Legion is the largest veterans organization with nearly 2 million members and as his father, an Iraq war vet pointed out to him, an organization where veterans will feel the camaraderie that they had in the service.
U.S. Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon, D-5 of Swarthmore, spoke about Navy veteran John Berry of Delaware County. who served in Vietnam. He suffered diseases as a result of being exposed to toxic chemicals from Agent Orange, but had to fight to get treatment from the military. Scanlon pointed out that Berry organized to fight for his and other Navy veterans and though he succumbed to the disease, his efforts helped lead to the Blue Water Navy Veterans Act, which was signed into law to give Vietnam Navy veterans the same coverage and aid as those who fought on land that were exposed to Agent Orange.
American Legion Commander Day spoke about the formation of the organization by combat troops in Paris, France, as they awaited to return to the United
States following World War I.
“As they waited they had time to think about what they would do after a discharge from service, to help their fellow wounded comrades, to honor the fallen, to care for the surviving spouses and orphans and to protect the the democracy they pledged their lives to defend,” John said. “The American Legion would be built on strengthening the nation, not serving themselves, through four pillars: volunteer work on behalf of veterans affairs and rehabilitation; the national defense; children and youth; and Americanism.
Sen. Casey issued a call for those who did not serve.
“Today is the day for citizens, all of us, but especially those of us who are not veterans to renew our commitment, not just to veterans but all the programs that are designed to make sure we keep our promises to them,” he said. “In addition to that, we renew our commitment to the values that these veterans fought so hard for, freedom, democracy and liberty.”