Community Luncheon welcomes Alliance native; parade marshals named
ALLIANCE − Local residents and dignitaries enjoyed a meal, gave out awards and welcomed home an Alliance native on Saturday at the Greater Alliance Carnation Festival Community Luncheon.
About 60 people attended the midday event at Hoover Price Campus Center on the campus of University of Mount Union.
Kayla Martin, this year's festival queen, helped start the program, introducing her mother, along with her court and their families.
She also gave Mayor Alan Andreani high praise. "He's pretty cool," she said.
"That might be the first time I've been called cool," Andreani responded to chuckles.
Award winners
Later in the program, Andreani gave Alliance resident Leigh Mainwaring the "Citizen of the Year" award. She actively volunteers for multiple groups and organizations.
Attorney Brent Barnes received the Favazzo-Jeswald Founders' Award. The award goes to a person who has unselfishly committed to the festival's success.
Barnes' father, Gary, won the award in 2017.
Also during the program, Dr. Patricia Tucker and Matthew Lansell were named marshals for this year's Carnation Festival Grand Parade, which is 11 a.m. Aug. 13.
Playing the hand dealt
Following the awards, Alliance native Gregory P. Miller, 71, delivered the luncheon's keynote speech. The 1968 Marlington High School graduate is a U.S. Navy veteran.
Miller, a former U.S. attorney, currently serves as a mediator and arbitrator at JAMS, formerly known as Judicial Mediation Services, Inc.
Gregory P. Miller: Alliance native to speak at Greater Alliance Carnation Festival Community Luncheon.
He served in the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania from 1978 to 1984, and also served in the judge advocate general's office in Philadelphia.
Miller also is a published author.
Miller told stories of how he got into law and the journey that career path has sent him on, cracked some jokes and praised his wife and family.
The theme of Miller's speech traces back to words his father told him − "Life is like a game of cards. You play the hand you're dealt."
Miller said he believes his career wouldn't have happened if he hadn't been drafted in 1969 to serve in the Vietnam War. "Life had dealt me a bad hand," he told them.
But he said his service in the Navy gave him an opportunity to go to law school and become a lawyer, prosecuting cases for the Navy and shaping his path.
Along the way, Miller said he had other moments of his deck getting reshuffled but it he preserved and kept moving forward in his career.
"My ability to play the hand I was dealt with began here in Alliance, with my family and friends," he said.
Reach Benjamin at 330-580-8567 or ben.duer@cantonrep.com. On Twitter: @bduerREP.
This article originally appeared on The Alliance Review: Carnation Festival welcomes Alliance native; parade marshal's named
