Meadville residents commemorate Memorial Day with parade, ceremony
Meadville commemorated Memorial Day with a parade and observance ceremony, honoring those who have died fighting for the nation's freedom.
The parade moved through downtown Meadville, with crowds cheering and waving American flags. It culminated in Diamond Park, where the mood shifted to a solemn observance ceremony.
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'It means everything. It means our veterans going overseas and sacrificing everything for this nation for the freedom of this nation,' said Gerald Fronce, a Meadville resident and military veteran.
Harold Beerbower, a Korean War veteran and former prisoner of war, shared his experience: 'I was a prisoner of war for 28 months over at Korea when I was 19 years old.'
Phil Davis, Commander of Post 52 Vietnam Veterans, emphasized the importance of Memorial Day: 'Well if it wasn't for our military we would not be able to live the way we do as a free country, as a free nation, as free people to go to school the way we go to school and go to church the way we go to church.'
The ceremony featured a salute to the flag, patriotic music, a reading of the Gettysburg Address, rifle salutes, and the playing of Taps.
Girard community honors veterans at annual Memorial Day parade
Phil Davis remarked on the significance of the flags seen in cemeteries: 'So when you go past a cemetery and you see all the flags flying, that is why we are here today.'
The Memorial Day events in Meadville served as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by military veterans to preserve the freedoms enjoyed by all Americans.
All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by WJET/WFXP. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat from a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by WJET/WFXP staff before being published.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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