Memorial Day in Wayne County included 2 parades, Coast Guard flyover
Like communities big and small across America, Wayne County's Honesdale and Hawley boroughs marked Memorial Day with a parade and ceremony honoring U.S. Armed Forces members who gave their lives for the country's freedom.
Hawley gets a jump ahead and has their parade on Sunday afternoon. Filled with small-town spirit, American Legion Wilson-Kelch Post 311 of Hawley leads, bearing the Colors.
U.S. Congressman Matt Cartwright (PA-8), who has a field office here, joined the parade again and spoke at the Legion's service.
Wallenpaupack's high school marching band marched. Among other highlights was the return of the 1888 Spencer steam tractor, restored by the Wayne County Historical Society. Local Boy and Cub Scouts carried their banners. Downtown Hawley Partnership's float once again include Santa Claus, dressed for summer.
Under equally sunny skies, Memorial Day, Monday morning in Honesdale included a fly-over by a C130H, a Coast Guard plane. It was piloted by Lt. Commander Kyle Richter, a 2005 graduate of Honesdale High School. Making three passes over the parade route on Main Street, the aircraft did not appear much higher than the town's tallest church steeple.
Of interest Wayne County Wanderings: Honesdale grad Kyle Richter set for Memorial Day parade flyover
VFW Hogencamp-Schupper Post 531, American Legion Post 254 and Disabled American Veterans Chapter 114 participated in Honesdale's events.
As they did in Hawley, the Pa. National Guard marched and even gave out candy to children along the way. Among many other parade features there were Wayne Highlands and Western Wayne school marching bands, three units with horses, scouts, a float remembering the fallen in war and grieving widows hosted by Freedom Lodge 188, International Order of Odd Fellows, and Wayne County Dairy Court.
Jessica Pachuta, Honesdale High School graduate, again organized this year's parade.
For the third year in a row, the Honesdale parade used an abbreviated route, VFW Commander Dale Pepper said. At first this was due to Covid-19 health regulations but has continued due to expense of hiring enough flaggers for traffic control.
At the following ceremony in Central Park, Danielle Gager, Honesdale High School Chorus member, sang the National Anthem and America the Beautiful.
Rev. Dr. William Lewis, a retired Army chaplain and Methodist minister whose pastorates included Central United Methodist in Honesdale, was the keynote speaker.
Lewis said he prays our children would not face another attack on America like at Pearl Harbor and 9/11 or be deployed to fight a war. He noted that the U.S. military presently serving around the globe outnumbers the combined armies of Australia, Canada and Great Britain, each one of them, he said, serving to preserve America's freedom.
"A weak America invites attack," Lewis cautioned, "This is our patriotic duty. This is the cost of freedom."He offered his personal opinion that he would like to see the United States restore a mandatory, two-year military service for young adults.
"Just think, it would go a long way toward instilling responsibility, discipline, patriotism, and it would make better citizens and a better America." His comment drew loud applause.
This article originally appeared on Tri-County Independent: Memorial Day in northern Poconos saw parades, Coast Guard flyover
