Memorial Day Parade, Breakfast Buffet Planned for Monday in Nazareth

Monday, May 30, is Memorial Day, the national holiday that honors and commemorates U.S. soldiers who died during military service.

The streets of downtown Nazareth will be filled with flags and patriotism Monday when Nazareth’s Harold V. Knecht Post 415 American Legion holds its annual Memorial Day Parade.

But first, you'll want to fuel up before the parade. Post 415 will hold its first annual Memorial Day breakfast buffet in the downstairs hall at 158 S. Main St.

Breakfast will be served from 7 a.m. to noon, and the fee will be $6 for adults, $4 for children 12 and under, and $3 for veterans.

After a good, hearty breakfast, head back to the streets to watch the parade, which will march off Centre Square at 10 a.m. and will end behind VFW Post 4366, Pvt. Kenneth S. Bowers Post, at 144 Mauch Chunk St., where a ceremony will be held.

The guest speaker will be Capt. Randy Hall, a driver education teacher at who will be deployed to the Middle East in August. Hall is a member of the U.S. Army and part of the 728th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion (CSSB). In addition to Hall's speech, a Nazareth High student will recite the Gettysburg Address.

Also at the ceremony, Taps will be played and the Nazareth Area High School and Middle School band will perform “The Star-Spangled Banner" and “The Battle Hymn of The Republic.”

Immediately following the ceremony, members of the public are invited for refreshments at Post 4366.

In case of inclement weather:

• The parade will not go on, but the ceremony will.
• The ceremony will be held in the gym at Nazareth Area High School. Doors will open at 9 a.m. and the ceremony will be held at 11 a.m.

As of 7 p.m. Wednesday, Monday’s forecast is partly sunny with a high of 85. Precipitation is not expected.

However, make sure to check Nazareth Patch Monday morning to make sure the parade will march off as planned -- ya never know with Mother Nature!