This is an excerpt from a larger article that appeared in Friday’s Butler Eagle. Subscribe online or in print to read the full article.A grassroots effort is under way to hold a Memorial Day rally in Diamond Park in Butler.Organizers said they understand why the county canceled the annual Memorial Day parade, but they wanted to publicly honor and memorialize the county’s military veterans. The rally is scheduled for noon May 25.Jason Spink, of Butler, said he’s not a veteran, but veterans should be honored and deceased veterans should be remembered, even though the parade was called off because of what he said was an unconstitutional state mandate.Gov. Tom Wolf is prohibiting large gatherings and requiring social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic.The county applied to the Department of Transportation in Harrisburg for a permit to hold the parade in late March or early April, but was told no such permits are being issued, said John Cyprian, county veteran services director.

This is an excerpt from a larger article that appeared in Friday’s Butler Eagle. Subscribe online or in print to read the full article.