Memorial Day Services, Parade Planned in Canonsburg

Canonsburg-Houston Veterans Council and the Canonsburg Volunteer Fire Department on Monday will host its annual Memorial Day services and parade.

The "Mothers of Democracy" program will begin at 8:15 a.m. at Canon-McMillan Middle School on North Central Avenue—and will include an invocation and benediction by the Rev. Donald Austin.

A flag ceremony, "Taps and Echo" by the Veterans Honor Guard, playing of the national anthem by the Canon-McMillan High School Band will follow, as will remarks by Mayor David H. Rhome and Washington County Judge Debbie O'Dell Seneca.

The placing of the wreath will also take place.

A parade will follow at 9 a.m., and the service will conclude with a ceremony at Oak Spring Cemetery. It will feature an address by Seneca, remarks by Rhome, and the reading of "In Flanders Field" by Tiffany Trunk.

The parade route will begin at Central Avenue and College Street, proceed to Greenside Avenue and Pike Street to the borough Honor Roll. Following the placement of the wreath, the parade will proceed down Pike Street to Bluff Avenue,  to College Street to Oak Spring Road and the cemetery entrance.

Participating in the parade are the Canonsburg Volunteer Fire Department, the North Strabane Fire Department, the Houston Volunteer Fire Department, members of the National Guard and the U.S. Army, Boy and Girl Scout groups, Gold Star Mothers and Sisters, the Civil War Patrol, American Legion and its honor guard, several Veterans of Foreign Wars posts, as well as the marching bands, cheerleaders, color guard and flag corps from Canon-McMillan and Chartiers-Houston high schools.

Rhome said events such as these are important because it reminds us of the true meaning of the holiday.

“Memorial Day isn’t about picnics,” he said. “It’s the pay honor to those who have fought—and continue to fight—for our freedoms.”

Canonsburg fire Chief Tim Solobay agreed.

“But before you light the coals and inflate the inner-tube, please take some time this weekend to remember why we call it Memorial Day,” he said in a statement. “More than 250 Pennsylvanians have died in the ongoing struggle in Iraq and Afghanistan. Everyone is entitled to their opinion about this effort, but it’s hard to imagine anyone who enjoys the comforts of an American holiday weekend without a healthy portion of gratitude to the men and women who set out for some of the most dangerous places in the world.”