Community Corner

Sewickley's Memorial Day Weekend Begins Friday with Flag Retirement Ceremony

The program at 6 p.m. Friday in Wolcott Park.starts an eventful four-day tribute.

Memorial Day is a sacred day to all war veterans and each year Sewickley pays tribute to those servicemen and women with a four-day observation.

Organizers of Sewickley's 121st  annual have planned events starting Friday night that include a fireworks display for the third year in a row.

Sewickley Mayor Brian Jeffe said the main difference with this year’s celebration compared to years past is the relocation of the flag ceremony that has been moved back to Wolcott Park on Broad Street.

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“I think there’s still a little bit of confusion. The last two years we’ve gone to Riverfront Park to shoot the fireworks off the barges in the river, but we are moving it back into town to use Wolcott Park,” Jeffe said Monday night.

Jeffe said the fireworks were a success at Riverfront Park the past two years, but they didn’t get the crowd for the Flag Retirement ceremony as before when it was held at Wolcott Park in the village. The goal is to increase the awareness of the flag retirement ceremony, while keeping people in town to help the business district.

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Broad Street will be closed down for the program, which starts at 6 p.m. followed by patriotic music at 7 p.m. with Ray Ryan's New Orleans Riverside Band and the Ohio Valley Marching Band.

The night will conclude with fireworks at 9 p.m. as a tribute to veterans.

Private donations, rather than taxpayer funds, help cover the cost of fireworks and the Memorial Day Parade, which draws a large number of people. The fireworks will be shot off from the Sewickley Cemetery.

Jeffe said support for the parade this year has been tremendous.  

“We’ve raised the most money we’ve ever raised before for the parade itself,” Jeffe said, adding that the committee hasn't received 100 percent funding for fireworks.

The public is encouraged to bring chairs and can put them anywhere on Broad Street.

 

 

 

Memorial Day Weekend of Events

Friday, May 25, at Wolcott Park

6 p.m. -- Flag retirement ceremony

7 p.m. -- Music

9 p.m. --  Fireworks celebration

 

Saturday, May 26

10:30 a.m. -- Memorial service aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Osage

 

Sunday, May 27

11 a.m. – Veteran’s Memorial Service, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 616 Washington St.

 

Monday, May 28

10 a.m. – 121st annual parade

Immediately following – Program at Wolcott Park.

Immediately following – Program at Sewickley Cemetery.


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