Late World War II veteran named grand marshal of Exeter Memorial Day Parade
The late Donald R. Moatz, past commander of American Legion Post 934, has been named grand marshal in absentia of the 40th annual Exeter Township Memorial Day Parade, officials announced.
The parade will be held May 31 at 9 a.m. on a route between Exeter High School and Forest Hills Memorial Park.
A memorial service will be held at the cemetery fol
lowing the parade.
Last year’s parade and service was canceled due to precautions surrounding the coronavirus crisis.
“This year’s parade is all the more poignant because we were unable to have one last year,” said Jesse A. Ritz, who chairs the event.
Moatz, who died at age 92 in 2019, was to have been grand marshal of the 2019 parade. He would have been grand marshal in 2020 had there been a parade.
An Army medic in World War II, Moatz served in the European Theater and was awaiting assignment to the Pacific Theater when the war ended in September 1945.
He served as post commander from 1976 to 2018 and was 14th District commander from 1990 to 2018.
He also served as District 14 chaplain.
Ritz, Post 934 membership chair, said Moatz served the legion for 45 years and Greater Exeter for even longer.
Post 934 Commander
John Fielding will moderate the service at Forest Hills, which is scheduled to begin around 10 a.m.
Fleetwood Police Chief Steve Stinsky will deliver the keynote address, and the Rev. Wendy Orzolerk of NorthStar United Methodist Church will offer the benediction.
Volunteer fire police will direct the two-division line of march led by veterans, speakers and Exeter Township groups. The second division is composed of Mount Penn and Antietam groups. The parade includes antique and classic cars.
Should the parade have to be canceled because of rain, it will be announced on WEEU radio station at 8:30 a.m. The service will be held rain or shine beneath tents at the cemetery.
Parade organizers encourage parade participants and spectators to wear protective masks or face shields.