Ellwood City Historical Society Remembers Memorial Day 2023 In Ellwood City

as submitted by Mob Morabito, Ellwood City Area Historical Society

At Ellwood City’s Legion Park on Memorial Day, the early morning twilight was just being breached by the first rays of the rising sun as the American flag was ceremoniously raised and lowered three times before being placed at the half-staff position. This was done to honor the 159 Ellwood City Area men listed on the monuments there who gave their lives in defense of freedom.

Five local veterans, Joe Fisher, Rich Griffith, Bill Hrabosky, Pete Maietta, and Bob Morabito, members of the J. Wilbur Randolph American Legion Post 157 of Ellwood City and the Beaver-Lawrence County Veteran’s Honor Guard, then proceeded to thirteen local cemeteries and one World War 2 Army dog’s grave on Grandview Avenue in North Sewickley Township, to say a prayer, fire three rifle volleys, and play Taps in remembrance of all veterans deceased.

This Memorial Day tradition has been observed by dedicated veterans in our area for at least half a century, yet most citizens are not aware that it occurs.

After going to the cemeteries, where local volunteers had placed American flags on all veterans’ graves earlier that week, the men then joined other Honor Guard and Legion members to participate in the annual Memorial Day Parade through downtown Ellwood City.

They performed the same poignant ceremony on the Lincoln High School-Veterans Memorial Bridge to remember those patriots who were lost at sea, and again at the conclusion of the Memorial Day Ceremony in Legion Park.

The Park’s flag was then ceremoniously raised to full staff at noon where it continuously flies proudly over the enshrined names reflecting the fervent pride and patriotism this community has for those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

The annual parade is sponsored and organized by the Chamber of Commerce. It gives area businesses and organization an opportunity to display their appreciation to the townspeople who line Fifth Street, Crescent Ave., Eight Street, and Lawrence Ave to watch. It was especially heartwarming to see parents with small children waving flags as the parade went by, and there were many children this year.

At the post-parade ceremony, Mayor Anthony Court was his usual eloquent self, welcoming the estimated 250 people who paid tribute to the 94 year-old Parade Marshall and Air Force veteran, Mary May, 101 year-old World War 2 Army veteran Guy Prestia, and the many Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Merchant Marine veterans who were present.

Three of the four American Legion Memorial Day Essay Contest winners, Jianna Curcio from Riverside, who arrived at the Park from the parade in the Ellwood City Area Historical Society’s replica trolley, and Hannah Cameron and Levi Fox from the Ellwood City Area School District, presented their winning essays to the crowd before the wonderful Ellwood City Civic Chorale did a fantastic melodic tribute.

The ceremony ended with the rifle salute and echo Taps by the Lincoln High School Band trumpeters, a fitting tribute of remembrance.

For those who missed this solemn occasion, you can still visit American Legion Park on Pittsburgh Circle to see the names of those who have fallen, surrounded by beautiful white begonias donated by D’Addio’s Family Nursery and lovingly tended by Mr. Sam Pawlowski. Or you can see the pictures of local veterans who served their country displayed from the light posts on Lawrence Ave and Fifth Street.

At our Ellwood City Area History Center at 310 Fifth Street, we recognize those contributions in artfully decorated window displays featuring historic artifacts like a World War 1 Helmet, A World War 2 foxhole shovel, a gas mask, a U.S. Army Air Corps uniform worn by George Kuntz, Army boots worn by Edward A. Veres, G.O. Lewis’ paratroopers uniform and parachute, the Korean War era Navy Officer’s uniform of Dr. Andrew Palatka, and Bill Blank’s World War 2 Sailor’s uniform.

Inside the museum, our manikins are dressed in a World War 2 nurse’s uniform worn by Naomi Patterson and the U.S. Army W.A.C. uniform worn by former Lincoln High School physical education teacher, Mary Kuben.

Memorial Day is celebrated as the beginning of summer and many people take the opportunity to enjoy time with their families. That’s a good thing. But Ellwood City also recognizes that the opportunity to enjoy our summers with loved ones was paid for by the sacrifice of 159 brave men who gave everything for freedom.

Ellwood City remembers.

Thanks,
Bob Morabito
ellwoodhistory@zoominternet.net