Memorial Day events kick off Sunday in Lansford with a special Memorial Mass at St. Catherine Drexel Roman Catholic Church.

Then on Monday, the annual parade followed by the special program in Kennedy Park will be held.The Mass at St. Catherine Drexel will begin at 8 a.m. with Rev. Father Kenneth Medve presiding.Richard D. Pogwist, Lansford

U.V.O. coordinator, said area veterans "are welcome to join the Lansford

U.V.O. at this service in the reserved seats."On Monday, the parade will form at 8:30 a.m. at St. Catherine Drexel Roman Catholic Church and at the Abbott Street Memorial Stone where the auxiliary presidents of the AmVets and Legion. Wreaths will be placed at both locations, with the Kennedy Park service set to begin at about 9:15 a.m..The parade will march north on Tunnel Street, then west on Ridge Street to the American Legion Post where a wreath will be placed and salute rendered.The march continues west on Ridge Street to the AmVets Post for a wreath placement.Next, the parade continues south on Center Street to the St. Nicholas Church Memorial stone where a salute will be rendered.Finally, the parade contues west on Bertsch Street to Courtright Street, turning east to Kennedy Park for the main program.The Lansford

U.V.O. will place flags on veterans' graves prior to Memorial Day. Anyone needing flags for the graves should contact the Lansford AmVets or the Lansford American Legion.Pogwist said the

U.V.O. is requesting all residents to display the American flag on Memorial Day, view the parade, and try to attend the services at Kennedy Park.All veterans, Sons of AmVets, Sons of the Legion, Legion Riders, Girl Scouts, Brownies, Boy Scouts, Cup Scouts, and anyone presently serving in the armed services are invited to take part in the parade.At Kennedy Park, Pogwist will serve as master of ceremonies.The invocation and benediction will be offered by Ernie Kerestes, chaplain of Legion Post 123.The placing of wreaths will be done by Legion and AmVets commanders.Jack Anderson, commander of Post 123, will give remarks. The roll call of deceased veterans will be presented by Steve Banditelli, first vice commander of the AmVets.Several Panther Valley High School students will take part in the program. They are Ashlee Miller, who will read General Logan's orders; Georgiana Butler, reading Flander's Field, and Melissa O'Brien, who will give Lincoln's Gettysburg Address.A selection will be played by the Panther Valley High School Band under the direction of Mark Christ.