Commanders of Butler’s four veterans’ organizations and a veteran of World War II honored their departed friends at Memorial Day ceremonies at the base of the Soldiers and Sailors monument in Diamond Park on May 29, 1945, before the annual Memorial Day Parade. Front row, from left, Horatio Vanderlin, commander of the Butler United-Spanish War veterans; Oscar J. Sybert, state commander of the United-Spanish War veterans and general chairman of the day’s program; W. Vane Ireland, commander of Joseph T. Black Post 249 VFW; Mr. Kammerer (Lincoln impersonator, who recited the Gettysburg address); Henry C. Coyle, commander of the Butler American Legion Post; Captain Ray Louden, officer of the day; and William Alvey of Butler, veteran of World War ll. Back row, from left, are Francis Leith, secretary of the Memorial Day committee; John Lachesky, World War ll veteran; Dewey T. Klugh, World War ll veteran; William J. Fredley, World War I veteran; John Cuchonic, World War ll veteran; Erwin Marsch, World War ll veteran; Frank Menchyk, World War ll veteran; John Nagle, World War l veteran; David Miller, World War ll veteran; Maurice Connors, World War ll veteran; and Frank Monaco, World War ll veteran.