Veterans parade draws thousands to downtown
Thursday's Veterans Day parade brought thousands of people from around Butler County to downtown Butler, where they were treated to more than an hour of bands, fire engines and military marching units.
John P. Cyprian, director of county Veterans Services, said the cool, sunny weather had a lot to do with the success of the parade.
He said this parade was one of the longest and best attended in recent years.
The parade including Butler County Veteran of the Year Sam Zurzolo, the Penn Township Veterans Association, the Butler School District ROTC and the American Legion Post 778 in Lyndora.
The parade route started at Penn Street and went south on Main Street before stopping at Diamond Park.
A few politicians also were in the parade, including Congressman-elect Mike Kelly, R-3rd, state Rep. Brian Ellis, R-11th, and county commissioners James Lokhaiser and James Kennedy.
Bands from Butler, Moniteau, Karns City, Slippery Rock and Knoch high schools marched.
At 11:05 a.m., the parade was halted for a gun salute and the playing of taps.
Some of the people who came to the parade said they do it annually.
Elizabeth Locher of Penn Township comes every year with her husband, Edward, who is a Korean War veteran.
She said there is a military tradition in her family. In addition to her husband, her father is a World War II veteran, her brother-in-law died during the Vietnam War and her daughter works at a VA Hospital in Wilmington, Del.
R.J. Dickey of Butler also comes annually. He said he usually comes to pay tribute to the veterans, but this year, two of his children are in the parade, one in the Moniteau High School Band and the other is in Boy Scout Troop 31 in West Sunbury.
He said ceremonies like this are important.
“It's the one day a year where we get to recognize what the veterans have done for us,” Dickey said.
Richard Riley of Butler comes every year as well. He is the post historian at the American Legion Post 778, and he comes to take pictures and display them at the post.“I think Butler County is really proud of their veterans. This is a really great parade,” Riley said.On the other hand, Paul and Diane Rudish of Chicora came for the first time in a few years. Diane Rudish said the weather was an incentive to come.“It's just a beautiful day,” she said.Paul Rudish served in the U.S. Army in Germany from 1957 to 1959. Diane Rudish's uncle served during World War II.After the parade, the Mariners of Pennsylvania dedicated the Merchant Marine monument in Diamond Park, which was put up May 28.Walter Luikart, head of the Mariners of Pennsylvania, said the group pushed for 10 years to get the monument and he is happy the group got a chance to dedicate it on Veterans Day.Charles Ellenberger of Oakland Township said he was impressed by the monument.“It really is the nicest I've seen,” he said.
