Butler County honored veterans through parade and ceremony
As the sun shone brightly, applause rang through Butler’s Main Street on Monday morning as veterans and others marched proudly in remembrance of the military men and women lost to battle and to time.
Krista McCaslin, of Center Township, watched with her small children as the Bantam Marine Corps Detachment 743 of the Marine Corps League led the procession with the American flag held forward.
“It’s perfect. We come every year,” said McCaslin, whose nephew also marched in the parade with the Butler High School band.
McCaslin said she doesn’t have any family members in the military, but she recognizes the sacrifices made to keep America safe.
“They support us, so we’re here to support them,” McCaslin said. “My kids, I want to teach them that.”
Representatives from the high school’s JROTC program also appeared in full uniform, as did many veterans organization across the county.
Members of local fire, police and EMS departments also paraded alongside the veterans.
Marco Savannah, 3, said as much as he liked seeing the veterans, he also liked the "firefighters“ and firetrucks.
“I like the (colors) red and blue,” he said.
Marco’s mother, Erica Savannah of Butler Township said the parade is a great way to come together and pay their respects.
“We talked about it yesterday on our way home from church, about Memorial Day and why we honor the troops,” Savannah said.
At the parade’s conclusion, the crowd shifted from lining the streets to surrounding Diamond Park where a formal ceremony was held. LeRoy Bunyan of the Lyndora American Legion served as the master of the ceremony.
“This is a day that is sacred,” Bunyan said. “We honor those who paid their lives in the service of our country.”
The Butler County Veteran of the Year also was featured in the ceremony, though he kept his presentation brief, out of respect for his fallen comrades.
“It’s quite an honor,” said honoree David Walker, retired U.S. Army. “But, today is not about me. Today is about my brothers and sisters who did not come home. That’s it.”
Tribute was also paid to the 364 veterans from Butler County who died in the past year.
The remainder of the ceremony featured familiar activities, such as the 21-gun salute and the singing of patriotic songs; however, one new addition stood out in the form of a table set beneath one of the stone memorials in the park.
“We call your attention to this small table, which occupies a place of dignity and honor,” said Bunyan during the ceremony.
The table is set with a white cloth and on the table are various items, a single rose, a red ribbon, a lemon slice, salt, glass, candle, chair and an American flag. Each item represented something lost or taken from those soldiers who were never found.
Bunyan said the salt, for example, represents the “fallen tears” of the family members left behind.
“They are referred to as POWs and MIAs,” Bunyan said. “We call them comrades. They are unable to be with their loved ones and and families, so we join together to pay humble tribute to them and to bear witness to their continued absence.”
Following the ceremony, Bunyan said the table was a great addition as it offered a great lesson, especially for children who may not know the significance of prisoners of war or those deemed missing in action.
As people left, some stopped to examine a wall containing depictions and descriptions of the 43 people born in Butler County whodied in the line of duty.
Dave Haunty of Butler brings the wall to many places and events in Butler County. He said he started the project many years ago for his own unit, the Marine Corps 7th Engineering Support Battalion.
He said he later shifted to those lost in Butler County, and it continued to grow. He said he’s proud to display it many places, including Monday’s Memorial Day ceremony, where it aligns best with the holiday’s meaning.
“It’s a visual thing,” Haunty said. “All I wanted to do was put a face to a name.”
