Celebrating Americanism Day

The American Legion Post 51 in Uniontown is hosting the 74th annual Americanism Day parade May 1.

Americanism Day was born in 1934 during the Great Depression after the long coal strike in 1933 in Western Pennsylvania.

According to historical reports, a group of Communists from the area asked permission to have a May Day Parade to coincide with the Communist Moscow's annual parade of the same name.

The Uniontown Police Department was faced with the probability of stirring up an incident that would cause trouble whether it gave or denied permission to the Communists.

The problem was solved by offering an Americanism Day celebration with 5,000 school children marching with various ethnic groups and organizations in a gigantic parade.

Large Americanism Day parades have become popular in Uniontown. In 1944, 15,000 marched; in 1970, there were so many participants that the length of the parade was doubled and with the estimated 40,000 spectators, the parade lasted for four hours.

This year's May 1 parade begins at 7 p.m., rain or shine. It starts at the Uniontown Area Senior High School on Fayette Street. The parade will travel west on Fayette Street, right on Morgantown Street, right on Main Street, left at the State Theatre Center for the Arts onto Gallatin Avenue, where the review stand will be located at American Legion Post 51. The parade will break up two blocks beyond the legion at Gallatin Avenue and Lemon Street.

Joe T. Joseph, adjutant for the American Legion Post 51, said this year's parade is open to all veterans groups, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, school bands, civic organizations, fire companies, dance schools, cheerleaders, majorettes and the general public.

Joseph asks anyone participating not to throw candy or novelties from their vehicles or engage in political advertising.

"Today, and always, we will forever unite and march" is the theme for the program this year, Joseph said. At this time, a group of citizens will be presented various awards.

"We're presenting these prestigious awards to superb members of the community," Joseph said.

The award recipients include Louis Congelio, Ernest K. Flesher, Francis A. "Frenchy" John, Victor Kozares, Vincent A. Weaver, James T. Moorehouse, Martha M. Semans, the John R. Carbin Family, T.A. Farmer, Bernard P. Gallagher, John Wally Schroyer, the Mason McLaughlin Family, the late Walter "Buzz" Storey, the Magolotti Family, the Tamburri Family, Ross DiMarco, the Steve and Nicholas Stefancin Family and Dolores DiMarco.

Featured speakers at the awards ceremony will include former state Rep. Larry Roberts, past Department of Pennsylvania American Legion Cmdr. Jim Hales, Department of Pennsylvania American Legion Auxiliary President Edwina Koman, civilian aide to the secretary of the Army for Western Pennsylvania John Spisso, Post 51 Cmdr. Loretta Imler and past department vice commander of the Pennsylvania American Legion.

For more information, contact Joseph at 724-438-8688.

Parade lineup

The American Legion Post 51, of Uniontown, will hold its 73rd annual Americanism Day program and parade on May 1, rain or shine. The parade starts at 7 p.m., and the public is invited to participate. All participants are asked to be in formation by 6 p.m.

The parade forms between 6 and 6:15 p.m. on East Fayette Street at Uniontown High School, proceeds west on Fayette Street to Morgantown Street, turns right onto Main Street, turns left on North Gallatin Avenue to the reviewing stand in front of the legion, continues two blocks to Lenox Street, where the parade breaks up. All bands, please report to Bailey Park, Dunbar Street. Latecomers for the parade are welcome and are asked to form at the end of the last division before the fire trucks. For questions, call Joe T. Joseph at 724-438-8688.

= Division One: Formation point corner of Pennsylvania Avenue and East Fayette Street, Uniontown police, state police at Uniontown, parade marshals Joe Hardy, Maggie Magerko Hardy and Maj. Gen. Frank Helmick, Uniontown Fire Department Fire Truck, American Legion Post No. 51 Honor Guards and its Commander Loretta Imler, Fayette Co. Sheriff Gary Brownfield, Fayette Co. Tactical Search and Rescue Team, District Attorney Nancy Vernon, Mayor James Sileo, past American Legion State Commander James Hales, Legion state Adjutant Kit Watson, past state Commander John Titis, past Pa. Vice Commander Robert C. Miller Jr., state Auxiliary President Edwina Koman, past state Auxiliary President Ann Conneybeer and guest, western region Commander Howard McBride, VFW Post 47 Champion Nation Band, Uniontown Firemen Marching Unit, Vietnam Veterans Inc., Vic Kozares, American Legion Americanism Chairman Joe T. Joseph, Post 51 Sons of the American Legion, Post 51 Auxiliary President, Post 51 Poppy Queen, Kathleen McLaughlin (father started Americanism Day), American Legion Post 423 Masontown Commander John Chattic and Vince Zapotosky, Post 423 Poppy Queen, posts 342, 459, 499, 752, 659, 275 and 146, Purple Heart, Disabled American Veterans, Daughters of the American Colonists, Larry Roberts, Reps. Tim Mahoney, Deberah Kula, Peter Daley, William DeWeese, Kennywood Trolley, Rosey the Riveretts, yellow ribbon queen Julie Thorpe with driver Ron Cole, Girl Scout troops 3076, 3111 and 3015, Kathy Benford and daughter, Wayne and Robert Martin, Linda Latham Martin, Romeo Luzzi driven by T.O. and Emilio Settimi, Charles Evanina, Bob Landman, K2 World War II float, Anthony Ferretti, Sgt. Kenneth G. Turner, Capt. Ross DiMarco, Ken Plummer, Charles Solly, Ralph Vall, Frenchy John, Tom Kalman, Perry McLain Martin, Albie Abraham, John Cippoletti, John Vaselanek, Wendell Patterson, Raymond Kelly, Frank Bilonick, all World War II veterans, John Spisso of Ambrust Veterans Association, mayor of Brownsville Louis Hosler, mayor of South Connellsville Pete Casini.

= Division Two: Formation point between train tracks and Pennsylvania Avenue on East Fayette Street, Festival Princess Paris Truly, Laurel Highlands Senior High School Band, Fayette Co. Veterans Affairs director Dan Seroka, reserve officer Don Miller, Mark Roberts, TREA floats and its auxiliary, Hot Shot All Star Cheerleader from Terry Sheehan Dance, Grace Miller of American Sweethearts grandparents of the year, Pennsylvania National Guard, U.S. Army, Navy, Airforce and Marines, Mon Valley Shipmates, Sean Cavanagh, AMVETS Post 103, James Smith Fleet Reserve, Mayor John Charles Schoener Iraq Veterans Marching, Iraq veteran Chris Colgan, Paula Shimko float for Iraq veterans, all other veterans of Iraqi War.

= Division Three: Formation point Pennsylvania Avenue near Kezmarsky Funeral Home, Uniontown Area High School Band, future Raideretts of Franklin Township, Uniontown Area High School five floats, Catholic War Veterans Honor Guard and its auxiliary, VFW posts 265, 8543 honor guard and auxiliary, 21 and auxiliary, 7023, 22 Charleroi, 3514 Curry Dyson, NAACP Clint Anderson, Hopwood Project Historical Flags Boy Scouts Troop 683 and Girl Scouts 3014, Col. Winn and Albert Gallatin Junior ROTC Cadets, Saber Boy and Girl winner from Albert Gallatin, Mon Valley Shipmates, American Red Cross, Nan's Red Hatters, American Cancer Society, ABATE, Menallen Twirlers, A.J. McMullin Junior Raider Band, Eastern Star float, PSEA retired, Cancer Society float, Salvation Army, Froggy and Pickle radio, George J. Plava Queens Cheerleaders, Young Inspirations, Fayette Co. Christian Home School, district judges Mark Blair, Joe George, Mike Defino, Wendy Dennis, Dwight Shaner, Randy Abraham.

= Division Four: Keith Myers Howard Hanna float, Fayette Co. commissioners Angela Zimmerlink and Vincent Vicites, Friendship Hill Student Cheering Unit and Twirlers, LaFayette Band, Step Team Tracy Ronin, East End Cheerleaders, Brownsville Democratic Club, WMBS, K2 Engineering three cars, Fayette No-kill Animal Shelter, Ben Franklin Junior Raider Band, State Theatre for the Arts, Tri-Town Historical Society float, MacMillan Engineering, Laurel Valley Corvette Club, John Wensing Insurance, Cub Scout Packs 695 and 654, Girl Scout Troops 3032 and 3015, Boy and Girl Scouts, Fayette Co. Blind Association, Busted (High School students).

= Division Five: Formation point East Fayette Street between Pennsylvania Street and Wilson Avenue, Laurel Highland Middle School Band, Vacation Bible School float of Trinity Church, Head Start of Fayette Co., Duck Hollow Learning Center, 12 hummers, Miller Yamaha, Stephen Bilohlavek Agency, Janice Snyder, Dave Malosky, Joe Giachetti, Bob Cerjanec, Gary Crozier, Order of the Easter Star, John "Sonny" Mikita, Christina's Group, Bosom Buddies.

= Division Six: Formation point alley between Wilson, South and East Fayette streets, Terry Sheehan's Dance Group, Mark Koposko Grasshoppers Lawnmowers, Steven Courson Humane Society, Pennsylvania Understanding Pets Robin Moore, Sunshine Acres with two horses and wagon, All American Landscaping.

= Division Seven: Formation point Stewart Avenue to East Fayette Street, 911 truck, American Ambulance, Ronco Volunteer Fire Department, Washington Township and Royal Fire departments, Hopwood, Ohiopyle, Republic, Smithfield, South Connellsville, Perryopolis Township, Smock and Connellsville Volunteer Fire departments, South Union Fire Department, New Salem, Collier, Farmington and Brownsville Volunteer Fire departments, Fayette EMS, Fayette City, Morrell, Fairchance, Monarch, McClellandtown, Luzerne Township, Allison No. 1 and Footdale Volunteer Fire departments. All late comers enter after seventh division. All bands go to Bailey Park.