Local Groups Support Memorial Day Activities

By Staff Reports
The Tube City Almanac
May 23, 2024
Posted in: Announcements

More than 40 volunteers from Peoples Gas placed flags on the graves of 2,000 veterans in McKeesport & Versailles Cemetery last week. (Submitted photo courtesy Peoples Gas)

Volunteers from Peoples Gas fanned out through McKeesport & Versailles Cemetery on Friday to place 2,000 American flags on the graves of veterans.

Despite inclement weather, about 40 employees completed the task in less than two hours with help from Amvets members, said Nick Paradise, Peoples Gas spokesman.

“While many of the veteran graves are in designated sections, plenty were within family plots or otherwise isolated, so our team spread out amongst the 44,000 gravestones to do our best to mark and honor each veteran, as well as the Civil War and WWII memorials,” Paradise said.

Another team of volunteers placed approximately 5,000 flags on graves at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Peters Twp., Washington County, he said.

Originally called “Decoration Day” because of the custom of placing flags and flowers on the graves of veterans, Memorial Day has been celebrated since 1868. It was originally held each year on May 30 but was moved to the last Monday of May in 1971.

Many Mon-Yough communities will hold events to mark the holiday:

Dravosburg will hold a ceremony at Richland Cemetery at 1 p.m. Sunday.

Glassport will hold a ceremony at 12 noon Monday at Memorial Park, Monongahela Avenue.

Liberty Borough will hold a ceremony at 10 a.m. Sunday at the Honor Roll on Liberty Way, followed by a small luncheon at the municipal building.

Lincoln Borough will hold a service at 1 p.m. Sunday at the Lincoln Borough Social Hall, Liberty Way at Veterans Way.

McKeesport will hold a wreath-laying ceremony at Memorial Park, corner of Market Street and Lysle Boulevard, at 10 a.m. Monday, followed by a separate ceremony at 11 a.m. at the LaRosa Youth Club, 901 Ravine St.

White Oak will hold its Memorial Day parade beginning at 12:30 p.m. Monday. Units should begin lining up by 11:45 a.m., a spokesperson said. The parade route begins at Willard Street and continues onto Lincoln Way, State Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, ending at American Legion Post 701, 2813 Capitol St.

In other events:

McKeesport Model Railroad Club, 2209 Walnut St., will be open from 12:30 to 6:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. A spokesperson said the club has had many requests to open up at other times of the year beyond the Thanksgiving and Christmas season. A donation is requested at the door.

Kennywood will salute active-duty military members and veterans with free admission until May 27. Military members and veterans can also purchase up to four discounted tickets for family and friends. A valid military ID card is required.

Braddock’s Battlefield History Center, 609 Sixth St., North Braddock will hold a discussion of “The Siege of Fort Detroit 1763” at 2 p.m. Saturday. Led by the Shawn MacIntyre, the BBHC’s public engagement and operations manager. The event is part of the history center’s 18th Century Roundtable series, which is open to anyone interested in colonial history. Bi-monthly roundtables focus on a specific event or topic. Regular admission fees apply.

Originally published May 23, 2024.

In other news:
"Sale of White Oak Gia…" || "Reader: Is ‘Police’ R…"