Even though the Memorial Day parade was canceled on May 18 in Parkesburg because of inclement weather, members of the Pfc. Robert Montgomery VFW Post 4480 conducted their traditional Memorial Day ceremonies at several locations in the area, including cemeteries and at the veterans memorial garden located at the Keystone Valley Fire Department (KVFD). The garden, which was dedicated by KVFD in May 2019, includes a memorial courtyard that honors fallen firefighters and a monument garden that honors servicemen and servicewomen lost in all military conflicts.

VFW past commander Bob McMinn, who filled in for current commander Mark Frohm, who was unable to attend, presented the introduction at the KVFD memorial.

"We are assembled once again to express severe reverence. This monument represents the resting place of many of our fallen comrades who served in all wars," McMinn stated. "This is a solemn commemoration for all these men and women and an expression of tribute."

VFW chaplain Pat Stephan offered a prayer, Bruce Latshaw played taps and VFW members provided a gun salute. Red, white and blue flowers were placed at the memorial, with red symbolizing remembrance, blue symbolizing loyalty and white representing the purity and innocence exhibited by those who gave their lives in service.

Other sites visited during the day included cemeteries in Gumtree and Cochranville and at Atglen Presbyterian Church, Mount Zion AME Church in Atglen and Our Lady of Consolation Church in Parkesburg. "At Upper Octorara (cemetery), (we visited) the headstone for Robert Montgomery, who our post is named after," explained Theresa Hardy, post manager and president of the VFW ladies auxiliary. "(We also visited) three personal (sites), including the VFW monument on Main Street across from Rocco and Anna's, the firehouse in Parkesburg and we have an honor garden in the back of our property where we have headstones for the (deceased) members from our post."

Other VFW members, as well as ladies auxiliary members who participated in the events, included Scott White, Stephen Spoto, Eugene Ogozaly and Suzanne Swindell. Honor guard members included Tammie Heineman, Bob Gouge, Dave Mellema, Ron McCorkle, Vince Santucci, Stephen Pierce and Latshaw, along with flag holders Tim Killinger and Bubba Mack.

Hardy noted that club members meet prior to the ceremonies to plan the event and place U.S. flags at the gravesites of veterans. "We have a list of all the veterans, and we go the weekend before and make sure they have placards and flags and we do the Memorial Day ceremony the following week," she said. "Typically, the VFW does ceremonies on Memorial Day, but so many people go away, so our post does it the weekend before Memorial Day."

She noted that this year's ceremonies were particularly challenging because it was raining throughout the morning. "There are a lot of tears shed and it's emotionally draining. It's a long morning. We were all soaking wet," she said. "But (most of) these men and women did not have a choice (to serve). They were drafted, and this is least we can do for them. It is really important to remember them."

The next scheduled event for the Parkesburg VFW, located at 406 W. Fourth Ave., will be a community day on Saturday, June 29, at Minch Park, 111 West St., Parkesburg, beginning at 4 p.m. The VFW will present fireworks at dusk.

To learn more about the VFW and its activities, visit the "Parkesburg VFW Post 4480" Facebook page. Vendors interested in taking part in the community day can send a Facebook message or contact the post at 610-857-1504.