Montgomery’s annual Memorial Day parade was canceled due to rain, and the traditional ceremony in the park was moved to the high school auditorium.

The Montgomery Area High School Marching band provided the music throughout the ceremony. Their selections include the National Anthem, Stars and Stripes Forever, the anthem for each branch of the American Armed Forces, and Taps.

Steve Klapp of the American Legion opened with a speech reminding the audience that many families won’t be celebrating Memorial Day as their family traditionally would due to losing a loved one.

Mayor Andy Onufrak, a veteran himself, told the audience that every American owes every soldier all the honor that we can give them for our freedom and our safety.

Daisey Sommets, a gold star wife, gave a touching speech about her late husband, Shawn. It was a somber reminder about the high cost of war to the families of our servicemen and women. She concluded by reading a poem written by her son, Wesley. She received a standing ovation from the audience who was genuinely moved by her story.

The American Legion presented awards to Montgomery students and Legion members. Bailey Segraves won the tenth grade essay contest and read her work for the audience. The eighth grade school awards were presented to Evan Strausbaugh and Katelyn Taylor. Dan Crawford won the Legionnaire of the Year award. Fred Younger, Larry Shultz, and Donald B. Pentz were recognized as Fifty Year Members.

The program concluded with Taps and a three gun-salute.

If you didn’t make it to this year’s ceremony, please attend next year to honor our fallen servicemen and women as well as the veterans in attendance. Bring your children and grandchildren and remind them of the debt of gratitude that we owe to the honored dead who gave their lives, as well as the veterans who gave part of their lives so we can remain a free people.

THOT “Land of the free because of the brave.” – copied

Happy birthday to Maddie Solano-LaForme, who will be celebrating her special day on June 3rd.

Loads of happy birthday wishes are sent to Silas Heasley, who turns five on June 6th.

Warm wishes for a happy retirement are sent to Sue Thomas, who recently retired from her long-held post of Librarian at Montgomery Area Public Library.

If you want to do something positive to help the community, consider joining the Montgomery Lions Club. For more information, please contact Roger McRae at 570-971-2825.

Montgomery events

Sat. June 3 A meeting for parents of Girl Scouts will be at 2 pm at the Montgomery Library. Girls can register at this time and receive their handbooks.

Sat. June 3 A fundraiser for the Summer Alive program will be held at the Riverside Campground from 2-9 p.m. Several bands will play and a raffle and drawing will be held for a guitar and bicycles. Everyone is invited.

Thurs. June 8 Red Cross Bloodmobile will be at Elimsport United Methodist Church, Rt. 44, Allenwood from 2-7 p.m. to give blood.

Sat. June 10 The Montgomery Area Historical Society will open the Adam Room from 10-1.

Sat. June 10 The Montgomery Area Alumni Banquet will be at the Clinton Township Volunteer Fire Hall beginning at 5 p.m. Social Hour will be 5-6, dinner at 6, followed by a program. A photographer for class reunions will be there at 7:45. Reunion years are: 1937, 1942, 1947, 1952, 1957, 1962, 1967, 1972, 1977, 1982, 1987, 1992, 1997, 2002, 2007, and 2012. The class of 2017 will be honored. Tickets are available at Thad’s or by calling Leona Dewalt at 570-547-6086.