Though it is considered a holiday to celebrate, the tone of the Memorial Day festivities in Beaver Falls will be reverent and somber in honor of those who have served in the United States military.

Duane Jones & Dwain McCann from the Beaver Falls American Legion Post #261 joined Matt Drzik to discuss the day’s events, starting with the parade along 7th Avenue beginning at 10 AM. The Beaver Falls and Riverside marching bands will perform, and veterans are encouraged to participate. The parade will run from 19th Street to 10th Street along 7th Avenue, before making way down to Cannon Park for the post-parade service. City Manager Mick Jones will be the keynote speaker at the service.

Jones & McCann also talked about the pre-parade salutes taking place at the surrounding cemeteries to honor the fallen (St. Mary’s, Beaver Falls, and Grandview), where the American Legion will read off the names of those buried at each site, along with a 21-gun salute.

The two also spoke about their own views on not just the sacrifices that were made to give this day its reverence, but also the importance of maintaining the American Legion post for the sake of the community and what it does for youth events throughout each year.

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