Mountville-area residents can look forward to the annual Memorial Day Parade, set for Saturday, May 28. The hourlong parade will step off at 10 a.m. from the intersection of Clay Street and College Avenue in Mountville. It will head down Main Street through downtown Mountville, concluding at Froelich Park on West Main Street.

The parade will feature the Hempfiled High School marching band along with other musical groups, bagpipes, marchers, antique cars and Shriners miniature cars and floats. It will conclude with a calliope.

"Most of the borough businesses participate," said parade coordinator Mike Gieniec, an auxiliary member at Reese-Hall Mountville VFW Post 8757.

The parade is a popular event for spectators, who enjoy the music and energy of the day. Plus it is also a chance to meet with neighbors and show support for military members and their families.

At the end of the parade route, shuttles will be available to take people to the Mountville Cemetery at 223 Hill St., where there will be a ceremony in the spirit of Memorial Day, honoring those who served and gave their lives for their country.

After welcoming remarks by John Hostetter Jr. and an invocation by the Rev. Mary Anne Kingsborough, the Marchmasters Band will play musical selections and the national anthem. The featured speaker for the ceremony will be Dr. Chance D. Kaplan.

There will be an honor guard, and flags and flowers will be placed on veterans' graves throughout the cemetery. The ceremony will conclude with taps by John Hess and retirement of the colors with local Boy Scout troops presenting the flag to Mayor Steve Mitchell.

The VFW post is the sponsor of the parade and ceremony and covers all the costs of the event. An active post with an auxiliary, the Mountville VFW erected the banners throughout town, which feature photos that honor 101 local veterans.

The parade and ceremony will be held rain or shine.