The following events celebrating Memorial Day are scheduled in Berks County:
May 21
Robesonia: A memorial remembrance ceremony will be held at the Henry P. Robeson Memorial Park, Penn Avenue and Robeson Street, at 6:30 p.m. Guest speaker will be Berks County Commissioner Dante Santoni Jr.
Wyomissing Scout Troop 413 carried a large flag during last year’s Wyomissing Memorial Day Parade and Remembrance Ceremony. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)
May 23
Wyomissing: The parade will step off at 10 a.m. from the Wyomissing Hills Elementary Center on Woodland Boulevard, travel through the Wyomissing Hills neighborhood, and conclude at Wyomissing Hills Memorial Park, where the Memorial Day Remembrance Ceremony will take place at the War Memorial. Navy Lt. Erin Whitney Crider, a 2002 graduate of Wyomissing High School who died in January while deployed at Camp Lemonnier, a U.S. base in Djibouti, will be recognized posthumously as grand marshal of the parade. Her parents, Joyce and Bill Crider, will represent her. The ceremony will be emceed by longtime Wyomissing resident Jerry Wojciechowski and will feature participation from the American Legion Ray A. Master Post 217 Honor Guard from Topton. The Buccaneer Alumni Drum & Bugle Corps and Rod Nevin of the Hamilton Celtic Pipe Band will provide musical tributes.
May 24
Oley: The Oley Valley American Legion Post 878 will be firing 21-gun salutes at the following cemeteries and approximate times: God’s Grace Church, Main Street at 8:35 a.m.; St Paul’s Lobachsville at 8:50; Pleasantville Cemetery at 9:10; Oley Spangville Cemetery at 9:30; Oley Line Cemetery at 9:55; Spies Church Cemetery, Alsace Township, at 10:15. The Legion will host a parade starting at 6 p.m. from Oley Valley High School. The parade will travel Main Street to Freiden’s Cemetery, where there will be a religious service and music provided by the high school band. The speaker will be Carl Brown, Vietnam silver star recipient. A 21-gun salute will follow. In case of rain, the service will be in the high school auditorium.
May 25 (Memorial Day)
Birdsboro: The parade starts at 9 a.m. from Daniel Boone High School. It proceeds down Chestnut Street to the Dollar General, left onto Main Street, stopping at American Legion Post 626 to present honors and a wreath. It continues to the Birdsboro Veterans of Foreign Wars Memorial Post 411 to pay honors and present a wreath. It continues to the Birdsboro Community Memorial Center WWI Monument to present a wreath, then onto North Mill Street, to First Street, past the Birdsboro Veterans Memorial, presenting wreaths and honors at the memorial and Birdsboro-Union Fire Company. A ceremony will be held at the Birdsboro Veterans Memorial at 10. In the event of a severe weather forecast, a parade cancellation would be made by 6 p.m. Sunday with email to participants and Facebook posting at “Birdsboro Today.” The ceremony would be held at 10 a.m. at the VFW Post 411 Pavilion.
Boyertown: Parade will begin at 9:30 a.m. at the Boyertown High School Monroe Street entrance, traveling west on Philadelphia Avenue to Fairview Cemetery, where a ceremony begins at about 10.
Centerport: The Centerport POS of A color guard and rifle team will be at services at Central Berks Fire Company at 11 a.m.; at Leesport playground at 1 p.m.; and Bellman’s Church at 2:30 p.m.
Fleetwood: The Horace Kieffer American Legion Post 625 Fleetwood program will begin at 9 a.m. with a brief service at Fleetwood Cemetery. Following the service, the parade will proceed south on Laurel Street to Main Street, then west on Main Street, continuing to Fleetwood Community Park. Upon arrival at the park, the color guard and firing squad will proceed to St. Paul’s Cemetery for a short memorial service before returning to Community Park for the continuation of the ceremonies. The featured speaker is retired Air Force Lt. Col. Kevin Hinkle. The clergy representative will be Pastor Rose Shepley of St. Paul’s UCC. The Fleetwood High School Marching Band will provide patriotic music during the ceremony.
The Fleetwood American Legion color guard led the Fleetwood Memorial Day Parade last year. (Photo courtesy of Chris Young/Fleetwood Borough)
Hamburg: The Wagner-Good VFW Post and the Behler-Hein American Legion Post will host ceremonies in Hamburg. There is no parade. The following ceremonies consisting of a rifle shoot are scheduled: 9:30 a.m., at the War Memorial, Second and State streets; 10 at the Greenwood and St. Mary’s cemeteries, 300 block of North Fifth Street; 10:30, main ceremony at St. Johns Cemetery (enter off State or Pine streets), including performance by the Blue Mountain Heritage Choir; followed by open houses with food and refreshments at the VFW Post, Fourth and State streets, and the American Legion Post, 650 Franklin Street. In case of inclement weather, the ceremonies will be at 10 at the Union Fire Company Field House.
Mohnton: Parade begins at 9 a.m. at the Earl Eshelman Memorial VFW Post 9045 at 225 W. Wyomissing Ave. From there, it turns left onto Walnut Street, right onto North Church Street and ends at the Mohnsville Cemetery. Services will be held at the VFW at 8:45 and immediately following the parade at the cemetery. The memorial service will then be held at Calvary United Methodist Church, Wyomissing Avenue and Church Street, at 10. In case of inclement weather, a parade cancellation will be announced on local media. The VFW will host a chicken barbecue from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., featuring music at 1 p.m., along with games and raffles.
Muhlenberg: The parks and recreation department event begins at 9 a.m. near the flagpole at Jim Dietrich Park, 4899 Stoudts Ferry Bridge Road. It features retired Marine Master Gunnery Sgt. Robert Souders, outreach coordinator and veterans service officer of Berks County Veterans Affairs, guest speaker; state Rep. Jacklyn Rusnock and state Sen. Judy Schwank, speakers. The posting of the colors will be done by Boy Scout Troops No. 161 and 155. Music will be provided by a Muhlenberg High School brass ensemble under the direction of Nathan Mohler. ”A Soldier’s Legacy” will be recited by Muhlenberg student Ashley De Los Santos. Wreaths will be laid in honor of Gold Star families and all military branches as well as military police and firefighters. Light refreshments will be served at the Steve Landes Pavilion. A fully restored 1942 military Jeep will be on display. Bring your own chairs. In case of rain, the event will be held at Pavilion 2 at the park.
A Vietnam veteran salutes as the Gov. Joseph Hiester chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution presents the colors at last year’s Memorial Day Service in Veterans Grove at City Park. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)
Reading: The first of two ceremonies hosted by the Combined Veterans Council of Berks County will be at Veterans Grove in City Park at 9 a.m. Navy Chief Petty Andrew Kropf will be the speaker. The second ceremony will be at the Civil War Monument in Charles Evans Cemetery, Centre Avenue, at about 10:15.
Shillington: The American Legion Reber-Moore Post 635 of Shillington 98th annual parade starts at Shillington Park at 10:30 a.m. The parade travels on Broad Street to Sterley Street, to Pennsylvania Avenue, to Brobst Street, to Shillington Town Hall for a brief service.
Wernersville: Parade kicks off at 10 a.m. from The Western Berks Fire Department, to Washington Street, to Wilson Avenue, ending at the fire house.