ccostlow@altoonamirror.com

The streets of downtown Altoona were packed Monday morning with children waving small American flags and adults wearing red, white and blue to recognize Memorial Day with a parade.

Yet some attendees walked away with a sense of remembrance, especially city resident Sue Franco, who accepted recognition from the Blair County War Veterans Council on behalf of her late father, Marine Corps veteran Edward “Bernie” Yetsko.

According to John Clay, voluntary services supervisor at the VA, Yetsko served in the United States Marine Corps from Jan. 5, 1954, to Jan. 4, 1956. He trained as an infantry rifleman and served in the commander’s security detail. He was recognized with the National Defense Service Medal with the European Class.

Mirror photo by Colette Costlow / Amelia Verobish, 4, dances on the sidewalk with her mother and sister before the Memorial Day parade starts Monday.

Yetsko continued to honor soldiers by serving in the honor guard at the Memorial Day ceremonies at St. Mary’s Cemetery and the Brush Mountain Sportsman’s Club.

“It’s an honor to remember him,” Franco said with tears in her eyes, as he recently passed away last fall at 90 years old.

“I think it’s incredibly important to remember everyone who served in the military,” she said.

Guest speaker David DiGiacomo, interim director of operations at the James E. Van Zandt VA Medical Center, mentioned how the Vietnam Memorial wall continues to pay tribute to many locals who sacrificed everything for the U.S.

“Here in Altoona, service is not an abstract concept,” he said to those gathered at the Robert E. Laws Veterans Mall. “It’s woven into the fabric of who we are. Many of our families trace their history through generations of military service.”

Mirror photo by Colette Costlow / City residents (from left) Chad, 7, and Cole, 4, run out to grab some candy on 12th Street.

Parade Marshal and First Sergeant Stephen Nadar said he always wanted to be in the army because his father served in World War II, earning three Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star.

“I just think it’s important, it’s almost like a dedication to him,” he said, adding that his father passed away four years ago.

“For me, it’s personal, but for everybody, this (parade) is for the ones that never made it back, and that’s why I do this,” he said.

Nadar, who has run the parade for 12 years, said about 50 floats were expected Monday to proceed along 17th Street to 11th Avenue before stopping at the Robert E. Laws Veterans Mall.

While the day started out rainy, he said he prayed for good weather, and spectators started to crowd the streets as the weather improved.

City residents Jeremiah and Lisamarie Winstead were one of many who brought chairs and watched the parade pass by on 12th Avenue. Their two boys, Chad, 7, and Cole, 4, ran to the street curb to grab candy thrown out from multiple floats.

“We just like the community feel of it in a small town,” Jeremiah Winstead said.

While the kids enjoyed grabbing free candy, he said the parade points to a greater message of honoring those who died in service to the nation.

“We’re just honoring those who have fallen and fought for our country, for the freedoms that we get to live in today,” he said.

Even 7-year-old city resident Quinn Roland was proudly waving her handheld American flag on 12th Avenue as floats passed by.

While Memorial Day was also her father’s birthday, she was celebrating the holiday by watching the parade on the sidelines.

When asked what the U.S. means to her, she said, “I’m really grateful about it.”

Altoona Area High School senior Miyah McDonough was part of the parade this year, as she was chosen to sing the National Anthem at the Veterans Mall after the parade.

She said the parade was a great way to honor those who served, such as her grandfather, Michael McDonough, who is now the commander of Catholic War Veteran Post 691.

“My grandfather’s such a big part of this, and I feel like it’s a really good way to get involved with him and everybody else,” she said.

While many people see Memorial Day as another day off from school or work, McDonough said it’s a day to remember the soldiers who died for freedoms today.

“I feel like people sometimes forget, especially Memorial Day, is a day where you get together and have a party, but it’s a good thing to have a ceremony like this to really remember why we’re here,” she said.

Mirror Staff Writer Colette Costlow is at 814-946-7414.