Friday, March 27, 2020 | 11:16 AM
Kristina Serafini | Tribune-Review
A United States submarine veteran tosses candy along Beaver Street during Sewickley’s 128th Memorial Day Parade on Monday, May 27, 2019.
Kristina Serafini | Tribune-Review
Korean War veteran Don McIlrath walks along Grant Street during Sewickley’s 128th Memorial Day Parade on Monday, May 27, 2019.
Kristina Serafini | Tribune-Review
A car carrying former mayors of Sewickley, including Malachy Whalen (back seat), ride along Grant Street during the borough’s 128th Memorial Day Parade on Monday, May 27, 2019.
This year’s Sewickley Memorial Day parade would have marked 129 years, making it one of the oldest in the commonwealth. But the group responsible for the event has decided to forgo the tradition this year.
“As a country and community, we’re doing what we can do,” said Brian Jeffe, who, as Sewickley mayor, chairs the Sewickley Memorial Day committee. “I’m uncomfortable inviting people into our town in large groups if we’re in the midst of an outbreak, or shortly removed from it.”
The nonprofit committee, comprised of veterans and community volunteers, held a special meeting this week during which they decided to cancel the popular event due to the coronavirus crisis.
“For the veterans, it’s extremely important. Some have been doing it 30, 40 years,” said Jeffe. “I’m almost teary eyed, but all said, we have to cancel.”
Though it may seem premature to make the decision now, Jeffe said the committee had already reached out to participants and was gearing up to solicit donations for this year’s event. Jeffe said he didn’t want to be in the position of having participants continue to drop out, and he didn’t want to collect money for an event that might not happen.
Memorial Day is among the most popular events in the borough, drawing as many as 5,000 to the Village. The committee receives about $25,000 in donations yearly to run the gathering, which is supported by the borough through the police and public works departments. Borough employee Mary Hertz works as liaison between the two entities.
The event recently was reduced to three days, after the fireworks display was eliminated out of respect to veterans who said the event should be a remembrance, not a celebration. Other traditions include a flag retirement ceremony, a maritime tribute at the Coast Guard station, a special service at Sewickley United Methodist Church, the parade and a closing service at Sewickley Cemetery.
Jeffe said he is particularly disappointed to cancel the church service, as the Rev. Russel Shuluga, who has presided over the veterans service for years, is retiring this year.
“I’m so grateful to (Shuluga) for donating his time, and to the Memorial Day veteran members. (The event is) a well-oiled machine to the outside world. It’s a tremendous three-day tribute, and those vets take great pride of it,” Jeffe said. “I’m honored to be the face of that. It was a tough decision to cancel.”
A group of veterans and volunteers will place flags on the graves of veterans May 16 at Sewickley Cemetery. The community is invited to participate.
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March 27, 2020 at 10:19PM
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Sewickley's popular Memorial Day parade canceled - TribLIVE
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