Zelienople American Legion gives Memorial Day tribute
ZELIENOPLE — For the third year in a row, 12-year-old Cooper Valko, of Freedom, performed a violin solo at Zelienople’s Memorial Day service, which took place Monday, May 26, in Four Corners Park.
He returned to play again this year, because of the opportunity to perform for military personnel.
“I know a lot of veterans and it’s great to play for veterans,” Cooper said. “Next year I’ll play ‘Hallelujah.’”
The Memorial Day service is an annual event in Zelienople, with the American Legion Post 474 handling the ceremonies for the day. The morning event kicked off with a flyover by a military plane, followed by speeches from borough officials, students and members of the legion.
Pennsylvania Rep. Stephenie Scialabba, R-12th, gave a speech at the event, followed by Zelienople Mayor Tom Oliverio, who reflected on battles that claimed lives of military personnel, preventing them from returning home.
Oliverio, a veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard, said the loss of soldiers in battles has affected him more after putting the age of many of the military members into perspective.
“All these men that I talked about never came home; they were 20, 21 years old,” Oliverio said. “It didn’t really hit me that hard until I got married and started having children, because I began to realize the importance of the loss of a loved one that we’ll never be able to see again.”
William Rape, commander of American Legion Post 474, led wreath-laying ceremonies on the memorial stones in Four Corners Park, which honor fallen veterans of different wars who were from the Zelienople area.
Rape announced the winners of the legion’s essay contest — two high school seniors, who each read their essay to the crowd gathered at the park.
Mason Strong, 18, of Maryland, said he has family in the Zelienople area, and wrote about his experience serving veterans through his job working at Mission Barbecue, and For Our Troops, a club at his school that supports veterans.
“We reflect on the courage, selflessness and dedication to our country … This day is about remembering those who are no longer with us, but it’s also a reminder for us to serve others in their honor,” Strong said, “to make sure their legacy lives on in our actions.”
Gavin Frederick, a senior at Riverside High School, also read his essay, which encouraged the people in attendance to think of people who have lost their lives while serving in the military.
“Every life tells us a different story, so remember the importance of Memorial Day, Frederick said, “to think of those who have lost their lives and their families.”
Following a gun-salute from members of the Honor Guard, Oliverio asked that veterans in attendance at the ceremony line up on the sidewalk so attendees could shake each of their hands before leaving for the day.
