With a theme of "they gave their tomorrow for our today," the Mount Joy Memorial Day parade will honor the men and women who died in service to our country.

The parade will be held on Saturday, May 24, at 2 p.m. It will travel along Main Street from Angle Street to Barbara Street. Main Street will close to vehicular traffic at noon to prepare for the parade.

"The Mount Joy parade has become the largest and best-known Memorial Day parade in Lancaster County," said John Coleman, who is on the parade committee. "With its origin in the late 1800s, it has a long tradition of providing a fitting remembrance to those men and women who sacrificed their lives for the freedoms which we enjoy."

He emphasized that the committee is thankful for all of the community support the event receives. Because of this support, the parade will feature 11 bands, including the Donegal High School marching band and the Donegal Alumni Band as well as others who have participated in previous years.

"We were also able to recruit the Ferko String Band from Philadelphia and the Keystone Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps of Hope Fire Company in Northern Cambria," Coleman shared. "The Drum and Bugle Corps will play for the crowd before the parade in the reverse direction, so make sure you get there early to see them." The committee will also award prizes for the best floats.

Skip Walsh, Marine Corps corporal, will serve as the parade grand marshal. A Long Island native, Walsh grew up the eldest of six in a close-knit community. Inspired by his World War II veteran uncle, he enlisted in the Marine Corps during the Vietnam War, serving 13 months in Da Nang as a photo interpreter and forward observer. After returning home, he started a successful pest control business and later moved to Pennsylvania. An active member of the American Legion and VFW, Walsh has held multiple leadership roles, including District 10 commander. Now retired, he continues serving veterans and his community as District 10 deputy commander.

"My service keeps me busy, and I enjoy helping the community and my fellow veterans," Walsh said. "I plan to continue serving as long as my health allows."

Coleman noted that the Memorial Day parade would not be possible without the support of sponsors.

"Our major sponsor for a third year in a row is Houseal Plumbing," he said. "New this year is a major sponsor for music to help with the cost of the bands. Hershey Heating & Air Conditioning is the major music sponsor." Each of the nine divisions in the parade will also have a sponsor. These are Hershey Heating & Air Conditioning, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Realty - Denny Brandt, Sheetz Funeral Home, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Realty - Ferne Silberman and Rose Madar, General RV Center, Hearing & Ear Care Center, Keystone Lawn Company, SM Johns & Son Construction and Stauffers of Kissel Hill.

For more information, search for "Mount Joy Memorial Day Parade" on Facebook.