JADE HEASLEY/TheLuminary Members of Hughesville's Glenn Sharrow Post marched in the Lycoming County Veteran's parade in Montgomery on Saturday, Nov. 5.    

MONTGOMERY – This year Lycoming County held its annual veteran’s parade in Montgomery on Saturday, Nov. 5. The Grand Marshall of this year’s Veterans Parade was Montgomery native Eugene Pauling. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1942, and before his honorable discharge in 1945 he became an officer, flew 30 combat missions over Germany as a B-52 pilot, and received the Distinguished Flying Cross and a presidential citation. Pauling was commissioned as a second lieutenant and earned his silver pilot’s wings.

Pauling’s first mission was over Frankfurt, Germany. Mayor Andy Onufrak announced, “He flew B-17 bombers as part of the 305th Bomb Group, 364th Bomb Squadron of the 8th Air Force.

“He barely made it back to base, only to discover the left main wheel had its huge tire shot off and was able to land safely in Britain,” Onufrak said. Pauling’s 30th and last flight was a mission to destroy a Nazi oil plant.

Pauling also was a Lycoming County sheriff for many years.

The parade honored all veterans of the county and featured eight divisions with more than 100 units or groups that included high school bands, mounted state troopers, antique cars, and military vehicles.

JADE HEASLEY/The Luminary A float depicting Flanders Field carried members of the Bower-Decker Post Auxiliary. This float was one of many in the Veterans Parade that honored fallen American servicemen.

While the parade is for all veterans, this year it focused on World War II heroes, Onufrak said.

The parade started at 2 p.m. at the Montgomery Area Athletic Complex and marched down Route 54, onto Main Street, Montgomery Street and Broad Street, ending at the American Legion. A judges’ review stood outside of the Montgomery Volunteer Fire Department.

Members of the Montgomery Area High School Lady Raiders Basketball team showed appreciation for all veterans as well as Montgomery's Bower-Decker Post as they marched in the parade while bouncing basketballs.