Various Veterans Day activities have been planned in the region, with most scheduled for Tuesday:
The University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown History Department, History Club and Phi Alpha Theta International Honor Society in history will host a screening of the locally produced film “We Never Got the Welcome Home: Western Pennsylvania Vets Remember Vietnam” at 7 p.m. Monday in the Pitt-Johnstown Living/Learning Center’s Heritage Hall.
The film was produced by 14 Northern Cambria High School students with a grant obtained by the Northern Cambria Coal Country Youth Hangout and the Cambria County Historical Society from the History Channel.
Paul Douglas Newman, UPJ professor of history, and Karen Bowman, Northern Cambria social studies teacher, coordinated the project, which includes interviews with more than 30 local veterans.
Veterans from the film and some of the student filmmakers will be available following the screening for questions and answers. The event is free and open to the public.
The film also will be shown at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the University Theater on the campus of St. Francis University, Loretto.
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Tuesday will mark the 12th consecutive year that downtown Johnstown’s Veterans Day Parade will be organized by the Conemaugh Valley Veterans.
State Rep. Ed Wojnaroski, D-Johnstown, is chairman of Conemaugh Valley Veterans, which organizes the parade.
The parade will begin at 4 p.m. at the lower end of Main Street and proceed to Clinton Street, where it will disband.
A program will be held in Central Park immediately following the parade.
The parade lineup includes nine bands, the most in the past 12 years, Wojnaroski said.
The bands are from Bishop McCort High School, Blacklick Valley High School, Conemaugh Valley High School, Ferndale Area High School, Forest Hills High School, Greater Johnstown High School, Greater Johnstown Middle School, Richland High School and Westmont Hilltop High School.
The parade also will feature military units and vehicles, floats and veterans organizations.
There will be a flyover at 4:10 p.m. by the 1/104th Aviation, Pennsylvania Army National Guard.
Harry Plows of the city’s West End, an Army veteran of World War II, is the parade’s permanent honorary marshal.
A reviewing stand will be set up on Main Street by the park. Tony Perry, an Army veteran of the Korean War, will announce the parade participants as they pass in front of the stand. Gold Star Families along with military and municipal officials will watch the parade from the stand.
While the parade is honoring all veterans as well as those serving in the military around the world today, special recognition will be given to World War II veterans, Wojnaroski said. He said singling out the World War II veterans is in keeping with a recognition ceremony in May for those veterans at Cambria County War Memorial Arena downtown.
Marty Kuhar, retired Army lieutenant colonel, is parade coordinator.
Speakers for the Central Park program will be Plows and Harry Muncert, also a World War II veteran. Both are members of Conemaugh Valley Veterans.
Stephanie Keklak, a 2007 graduate of Westmont Hilltop High School who now is a sophomore at LaRoche College, Pittsburgh, will sing the national anthem and “God Bless America.”
The Rev. Father Leo Arnone, pastor of St. Clare of Assisi Church, Woodvale, will ask the invocation and pronounce the benediction.
Menoher Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 155’s Ritual Team will conduct the flag raising and lowering and play taps.
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Windber Area veterans organizations will observe Veterans Day Tuesday with a parade and service.
The parade will form at 9:30 a.m. at American Legion Post 137 at 312 14th St. It will proceed to 18th Street, to Somerset Avenue, to 13th Street, to Graham Avenue, to 14th Street, to Jefferson Avenue and to Veterans Park for the service.
Speaker will be Dr. Kim R. Marley, a retired Army colonel who is chief of surgery at Windber Medical Center.
Charles DiLoreto will be master of ceremonies. Mayor Art Palumbo will offer greetings.
Remarks will be made by Tom Geiger, World War II Committee chairman. Rev. Father Adrian Tirpak will ask the invocation and benediction.
Nick Pascovich, Legion commander, and Perry Mock, commander of the local Veterans of Foreign Wars, will make the wreath placement.
Members of the Marines will raise the flag.
The Windber Area High School band will play the national anthem and taps and offer several other musical selections. There will be a rifle salute by the VFW Ritual Team.
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Jackson Township Senior Center will hold its sixth annual Veterans Day program at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the center, which is on Adams Avenue.
Marty Kuhar, retired Army lieutenant colonel, will be the speaker.
Corey Shirk, a student at Central Cambria High School, will sing “American Dreams,” said Frank J. Singel, the senior center’s president.
The Rev. Drew Walther, pastor of Singer Hill Grace Brethren Church, will offer the invocation and benediction.
Honor guard will be members of Menoher Post 155 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Geistown. Jackson Township’s Boy Scout Troop and Cub Scout Pack will offer the Pledge of Allegiance.
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Vernice Rosenberger, a widow residing in Armagh, has organized a dinner for area veterans. It will be held at 5 p.m. Tuesday in Armagh United Methodist Church.
More than 100 veterans are planning to attend.
Rosenberger wanted to do something for veterans and decided to hold a dinner. She posted fliers in area churches and said she was pleasantly surprised when more than 100 accepted her invitation.
As the veterans enter the church, American flags will outline the walkway and parking area. Each veteran will receive one of these flags at the conclusion of the dinner.
After the dinner, there will be a program in the church sanctuary.
Several veterans will speak about their experiences, including Jeremy Feldbusch of Blairsville, who became blind after being wounded in Iraq.
Each veteran in attendance will receive a commemorative booklet.
Also speaking will be state Sen. Donald White and state Rep. David Reed, both of Indiana.
The program will conclude with the playing of taps and a tribute to all veterans.
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Cub Scout Pack 25, Geistown, will provide coffee and doughnuts for veterans on Tuesday from 8 to 10 a.m. at Geistown fire hall, 631 Lamberd Ave.
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Sgt. Michael Strank Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5107, Franklin, along with Conemaugh-Franklin American Legion Post 633 and Parkhill American Legion Post 970, will pay tribute to area veterans starting at 10 a.m. Tuesday.
Services will be conducted at Bon Air Memorial Park, Post 970, Post 633, Franklin Borough municipal building and Post 5107.
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A Veterans Day program will be held Tuesday morning at Shade-Central City Junior-Senior High School, Cairnbrook.
Principal Allan Berkhimer said a breakfast will be held for area veterans beginning at 8:30 a.m. There will be patriotic music provided by the school’s band and chamber choir along with other activities, he said.
Veterans from the Shade-Central City area wanting to attend should call the high school at 754-4648, Berkhimer said.
The program is expected to last until about 10:30 a.m., he said.
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Richland Woods Assisted Living, 3324 Elton Road, Richland Township, will honor its 14 residents who are veterans beginning at 10:45 a.m. Tuesday.
Terri Morway, assistant community director, said members of the Marine Corps League’s Conemaugh Valley Detachment will conduct a flag raising, a 21-gun salute and play taps outside.
They will then come indoors where they will present gifts to the veterans and attend a lunch in their honor.
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A ceremony commemorating Veterans Day will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday at the Casino at Lakemont, Altoona.
Members of the community, members of the armed forces, veterans and their families are invited to attend.
