The Carbon County Veterans Council announced the annual Carbon County Veterans Day Parade will be held on Sunday in Nesquehoning, with a rain date of Nov. 12.

This year’s parade is hosted by the Nesquehoning United Veterans Organization, consisting of American Legion Post 8008 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8008.

The grand marshal of this year’s parade is Joseph T. Matula Sr., a lifelong resident of Nesquehoning. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1966 and served in Vietnam.

He is a past commander of the VFW Post 8008 of Nesquehoning and a past District 20 VFW commander.

The parade will be telecast live on Blue Ridge Communications TV with the reviewing stand located in front of ETA Benefits Group, 75 W. Catawissa St. Free American flags will be distributed to children (one per child) at the reviewing stand while supplies last.

Parade participants are required to register at REV Group Plant 7 on the north side of Route 54 in Nesquehoning. Please observe the posted signs.

Lineups start forming at noon and all participants are asked to be in place by 1:30 p.m. The parade will start promptly at 1:45 with services in front of the Nesquehoning Veterans Memorial at the intersection of routes 54 and 209 and at St. Patrick’s Cemetery memorial grounds.

The parade route will be stepping off on Route 54 onto West Catawissa, turning right onto Oak Street and then right onto Center Street where the parade will disband. Participants and volunteers are invited to the VFW Post 8008, located at 300 E. Center St., for complimentary refreshments immediately following the parade.

The lineup for the five-division parade is as follows:

Division 1

Forms on the south side of Route 54 in front of the REV Group headquarters.

Nesquehoning Police officer Tim Wuttke and Mayor Sam Kitchko; Nesquehoning UVO Color Front; Grand Marshal Joseph T. Matula Sr. VFW District 20 commander and senior vice commander; Nesquehoning VFW Poppy King, Queen and Court; Panther Valley JROTC; Panther Valley High School Marching Band; American Legion Post 123 Color Guard; American Legion Post 316; Navy Club of Carbon County Ship 620; Carbon County Republican Committee; American Legion Post 170; Elite Generation Wrestling; Tamaqua Salvation Army; American Fire Company No. 1; Diligence Fire Company No. 1; Coaldale Fire Department No. 1.

Division 2

Forms on the north side of Route 54.

Palmerton UVO Color Front; Palmerton VFW/Legion Joseph Plechary; Marine Van Ed Baransky; Palmerton UVO (269, 7134) officials; Palmerton High School Blue Bomber Marching Band; Boy Scout Troop 20; Cub Pack 41; Larry Wannamaker — Abe Lincoln; Perseverance Jazz Band; Palmerton Municipal Fire Department; West End Fire Company No. 2; Aquashicola Volunteer Fire Company.

Division 3

Forms on the north side of Route 54.

American Legion Post 304 Honor Guard; Carbon County Veterans Affairs — Henry Desrosiers; American Legion Auxiliary Post 304; Jim Thorpe Olympian Marching Band; Vietnam Veterans of Carbon County Honor Guard; Carbon County Commissioners; Carbon County Sheriff’s Office; Girl Scout Troops 30136, 30137 and 32904; Ancient Organization of Hibernians; Carbon County Shrine Club; American Legion Post 16 — Mike Marino — military cargo truck; Keystone Medical Equipment; Jim Thorpe Fire Company.

Division 4

Forms on the north side of Route 54.

Lehighton UVO Color Guard; Lehighton Area High School Indian Pride Band; American Legion Auxiliary Unit 314 Miss Poppy; American Legion Auxiliary Unit 314 President; Democratic Party of Carbon County; Girl Scout Service Unit 734 (Daisies, Brownies, Juniors, Cadets); Cub Pack 82; Boy Scout Troop 187; Gregory A. Badger Calliope; Yenser’s Tree Farm; Juke Box Cruisers; Pennsylvania Outdoor Veterans; Regional EMS & Critical Care Inc.; Lehighton Fire Department; Mahoning Valley Volunteer Fire Company No. 1.

Division 5

Forms on the north side of Route 54.

Schuylkill-Carbon Marine Corp League — Color Guard; Weatherly Area High School Band; American Legion Auxiliary Unit 360; Military Order of the Purple Heart 190; Rajah Shrine Oriental Band; Rajah Shiners Anglers Club; Forks of the Delaware Tin Lizzies; Veterans Assisted Living Outreach — VALOR; Lake Harmony Volunteer Fire Company.

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