Generally, the most unrivaled event of the year in Summit Hill is its annual Memorial Day parade and service.

This year was no exception, despite the lingering threat of stormy weather.

Several hundred people attended the annual service in Ludlow Park; many more watched the four-division parade traverse the town.

The parade featured veterans’ groups, marching bands, the town’s youth sporting teams, day cares and various organizations.

So pronounced was the threat of storms that the Memorial Day Parade Committee met just two hours before parade time to discuss whether it should be held. The decision was that the inclement weather would likely hold off until well after the event.

Thomas Vermillion, in his 19th year as parade chairman, said, “We were hoping the storms would hold off. Safety is our number one priority, and we didn’t think that was an issue.”

He said the reaction he’s received from various sources indicate people were glad the parade went on as scheduled.

To make sure individuals were safe, Vermillion said bands were permitted to have their buses in the parade route behind them for a quick exit if storms would pop-up.

Near the end of the parade, it began raining with the Pottsville High School marching band among those still marching. Despite getting somewhat wet, the Pottsville band didn’t rush to the buses. It weathered through to the end of the route.

Vermillion said that in general, “it was a good day.”

He said a few groups had canceled because of the weather, including two bands: the Mackay Pipe Band of Bethlehem and the Shenandoah High School Band.

In the march besides Pottsville High School Band were Panther Valley High School Band, Jim Thorpe High School Band, a rock band on a float by Stoney Lonesome Excavating and David Matsinko as a solo musician.

Vermillion said the turnout of parade spectators wasn’t as large as last year’s event, he was still impressed by the number of people attending. “I was surprised at how many people were out along the street, instead of just on porches,” he said.

Mayor Jeffrey Szczecina of Summit Hill said there have been only two cancellations of the parade in its long history.

The parade was led by the honor guard of the Summit Hill American Legion and Sons of the American Legion.

About 30 members of the Summit Hill and Lansford Fire Departments combined for a marching unit. Also in the march were about 20 members of the Panther Valley JROTC.

The four communities which comprise the Panther Valley had 19 pieces of fire apparatus in the parade. Fire departments and ambulance units from several other communities also participated.

The grand marshal of the parade was Clem Midas, a longtime member of the American Legion.

Midas enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1970 and served for 4½ years.

His military career began in Pensacola, Florida, where he was trained as a communications technician before reporting to the Naval Air Facility Adak in the Aleutian Islands of Alaska.

He went back to Pensacola for specialty training in communications before being assigned to the Naval Base Guam and the Andersen Air Force Base that housed the Navy’s Combat Support Squadron 25 on the northern section of the island.

Later he served in Inner Harbor, Maine.

He has been a Legionnaire for over 50 years. At Summit Hill American Legion Post 316, his volunteerism includes managing the day-to-day bar operations as a steward. For the past 20 years, he has been post adjutant.

Midas kicked off the parade ringing the old Summit Hill High School bell in Ludlow Park.

In the Memorial Day service that preceded the parade, the main speaker was David McAndrew, superintendent of schools in the Panther Valley School District.

“Memorial Day is more than a day off of work or the unofficial first day of summer,” he said. He said it is a day to reflect on the sacrifices Americans made giving us our freedoms.

“Every freedom we cherish was defended by someone who wears the uniform,” he said.

McAndrew also paid tribute to the families of military members who also make sacrifices.

A roll call of Summit Hill military veterans who died within the past year was read by Gregory Miller, chaplain of the Summit Hill Legion Post.

Panther Valley seniors Mikayla Yuricheck, Ava Alabovitz and Taylor Christman also participated. Yuricheck read the Gettysburg Address, Alabovitz presented Logan’s General Orders and Christman read Flanders Field.

Playing the bugle and drums during the service were Kyla McQuillen and Gino Williams, respectively, both Panther Valley High School students.