DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette The Nittany Highland Pipe and Drum Band marches in the the Lycoming County Veterans Parade Committee in Jersey Shore Nov. 5, 2022. Hundreds turned out to watch the hour-long parade which was held this year in downtown Jersey Shore.

There is no shortage of Veterans Day observances and events to honor the military veterans of Lycoming County.

The upcoming events to plan for include the Lycoming County Veterans Day Parade on Saturday, Nov. 8, at 2 p.m. in Montgomery; the ceremony at Montoursville Cemetery, Tuesday, Nov. 11 at 11 a.m. The ceremony is held at “The Veterans Memorial Wall” in the southwest corner of the cemetery; and state Rep. Jamie Flick, R-South Williamsport set to honor veterans with the third annual veterans breakfast on Nov. 13 from 8 to 10 a.m. at the American Legion Post 1, 10 E. Third St.

The annual parade

The Lycoming County Veterans Day Parade is a traveling parade that moves from community to community each year to recognize county veterans and their sacrifices that were made for freedom.

This year’s Veteran’s Day Parade will have military contingents; musical bands; floats

and is a chance to come out and show support for service members

and veterans who have answered the call of duty to the nation.

One of the highlights of the veterans parade is the pipers and drummers of the Nittany Highland

Pipe Band who come from throughout central Pennsylvania.

Founded in 1973 near the Pennsylvania State University, the band maintains an active schedule of parades and performances – Performing, Promoting, and Perpetuating the skills and traditions of Highland bagpiping and Scottish drumming.

The Nittany Highland Band is proud to honor veterans and servicemen and servicewomen with this year’s performance.

“The borough of Montgomery, is proud to honor and recognize our nation’s veterans

and service members,” said Ken Bennett, Montgomery mayor.

“We are excited to have the borough of Montgomery host this year’s parade,” he said.

Bennett added that “his father served in the Korean War,” and he believes that “this parade is both welcomed and deserved by our veterans and is a great way for our community to say thank you.”

Borough Manager Donna Miller “welcomes everyone to the greatest little town on the Susquehanna.”

“Montgomery Borough is very proud and honored to host the 2025 Lycoming County Veterans Day Parade,” she said. “We would like to thank all of the veterans for the sacrifices that were made. Please, stop and reflect on this very special day.”

“We are asking for everyone to come out and show your support for our nation’s

veterans,” shared William Jones, president of the Lycoming County Veterans Day

Parade Committee. The route will be as follows:

• the Parade will start at Hulsizer’s Chevrolet on Main Street.

• And proceed along Montgomery Street

• It will proceed to the Bower Decker Post 251, American Legion on Broad Street.

There will be a review stand and stage for the opening ceremony at the Montgomery

Volunteer Fire Co. on Montgomery Street.

This year’s parade sponsors are:

• Title Sponsor-American Legion, Post #251

• Presenting Sponsor, Service First Federal Credit Union

• Division Sponsors, UPMC Life Changing Medicine, and the Borough of

Montgomery

Montoursville’s ceremony

“We have had very good attendance at this event in the past, 200 plus attended last year,” said Mike Wall, a U.S. Navy veteran and the Montoursville Veterans Day coordinator.

“Also, the entire 3rd grade from Lyter Elementary School attended and sang several songs related to being a veteran,” Wall said.

“Our keynote speaker this year will be Lt. Colonel Burley Malbrough, US Air Force, currently assigned to the US Army War College, Carlisle.

Veterans Breakfast

Flick, who represents parts of Union and Lycoming counties, cordially invited veterans and their families to the heartfelt gathering as his third annual Veterans Breakfast.

“This breakfast is a small way for me to show my gratitude for the service and sacrifices of our veterans,” Flick said. “I come from a family full of patriots who have proudly served our great nation. It’s important to me to honor those who have served our country.”

Flick’s connection to veterans is personal. His grandfather was a casualty in World War I, his brother-in-law was killed while serving in Iraq, his father served in the Air Force after World War II and two of his sons have served (one currently in Poland).

Natalie Steppe, director of the Lycoming County Department of Veterans Affairs, will serve as the featured guest speaker. Steppe has worked for the Veterans Affairs office since 2013. Her office covers Lycoming County and beyond.

“Natalie is an expert in services available to veterans,” Flick said. “I am thankful that she will offer her insight and remarks at this event that reminds me of how much we owe the men and women who wore the uniform.”

Veterans attending the breakfast will also receive informational handouts and resources available to them.

To register, visit www.RepFlick.com/events or call Flick’s district office at 570-321-1270.

Veterans Day history

“In November 1919, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed Nov. 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day with the following words: “To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…”

The original concept for the celebration was for a day observed with parades and public meetings and a brief suspension of business beginning at 11 a.m.

The United States Congress officially recognized the end of World War I when it passed a concurrent resolution on June 4, 1926.