Memorial Day Parade, Ceremony Held in Honor of U.S. Soldiers and Veterans

The streets of downtown Nazareth were filled with flags and patriotism Monday morning as Nazareth’s Harold V. Knecht Post 415 American Legion held its annual Memorial Day parade.

Local veterans led the parade from its Center Square starting location in style. Some driving, some just along for the ride, the veterans circled Center Square in period military vehicles -- they were headed toward S. Main Street where the sidewalks were lined with anxious onlookers.

Following closely behind were local Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Brownie Troops and Girl Scout Troops, American flags in everyone's hand.

Then came the and marching bands, whose patriotic notes were accompanied by folks singing or humming along.

And then the impressive fire apparatus from multiple departments arrived "on scene."

, , Tatamy Fire Company, and all headed down the parade route.

The parade concluded with a Memorial Day ceremony on Memorial Square, or Veterans Field, outside the chambers of Nazareth Borough Council.

After an introduction from local veteran John Beitel, the Rev. Jeffrey Gehris of the gave the invocation.

Gehris asked those in attendance to "remember those who died for the freedom we enjoy," adding that veterans should continue to be honored and severely injured soldiers should not be forgotten.

For soldiers currently enlisted, Gehris had this to say:

"Lord, I pray for all [who] are serving our nation today," he said while residents bowed their heads. "I pray you put a shield around them and bring them home safely."

After the Pledge of Allegiance and the playing of "The Star-Spangled Banner" by the Blue Eagle Marching Band, Ridge Grom, a senior from Nazareth Area High School, recited the Gettysburg Address.

Capt. Randall "Randy" Hall, a member of the U.S. Army and part of the 728th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion (CSSB), then took the stage.

Hall, a driver education teacher at Nazareth High, was deployed to Iraq in 2007. He told the crowd of about 450 that it felt amazing to return to his family.

His wife gave birth to their first child, a daughter, while Hall was deployed. When he returned home, he was able to meet his 6-month-old daughter for the first time.

But while he was "riding high," he was suddenly hit with the harsh reality of war.

Hall received an e-mail from a fellow comrade. One of their friends, Army 1st Lt. Jeffrey F. Deprimo of Pittston, was killed in Afghanistan. In May 2008, Deprimo was killed near the town of Ghazni along with two others when the vehicle they were traveling in encountered an improvised explosive device (IED).

He left behind his parents and two sisters, Hall said.

Hall, who will again be deployed to the Middle East in August, explained that the best thing for a soldier is letters -- letters from family and friends telling them about the wonderful things happening in their lives.

During his speech, he referenced the movie “Saving Private Ryan,” specifically the part when the dying Capt. John H. Miller, played by Tom Hanks, tells Pvt. James Ryan “to make it worth it.”

Hall -- referring to everyone in the crowd -- said that by living your life to the fullest, you're making the efforts of U.S. servicemen and servicewomen worth it.