A parade to honor members of the military was held in honor of Armed Forces Day, traditionally held the third Saturday of May.

This year it was on May 20, and members of the various branches of the military were honored by the community.

Major General Jay Barry, United States Air Force Academy Graduate, was one of two grand marshals.

“Well, you know, in communities all over this country in the next week, we’re going to be celebrating our veterans, and really honoring those who have fallen in wars before us,” Barry said.

“But each community has its own little take on how to do it. And this small community of Weissport has done such a really good job over the years. Jake Boyer, who’s an old friend of mine from high school football and baseball, spearheads that group that puts this together,” Barry said.

A lot of people doing a lot of hard work to make this event happen. And I know the community is very proud of it, and they’re proud of the people who have served. That’s really what today is all about. And talking about members of the armed services who have served and are serving now; it’s so important to honor those.”

2nd Lt. Addison Howland, a 2023 graduate of the Air Force Academy, was the second grand marshal.

“I think it’s a great thing for the community,” Howland said.

“I think it’s very important to honor veterans and all the people that are here that made sacrifices in the past. It’s an honor for me to be here and I’m grateful that I can come from a town that values military service as much as this town does.”

Dr. Keith (Jake) Boyer, Sandra Putkowski, and Ruth Bush, with the help of Jacob’s UCC, Weissport, coordinated the parade.

Shayla Cotterman sang the national anthem, and Greg Ebbert was the Emcee.

Members of the Vietnam Veterans Motorcycle Club led the parade, followed by the Lehighton Legion Honor Guard.

The grand marshals rode in a red Ford Thunderbird convertible owned by Drew Yenser, driven by U.S. Navy Veteran Bruce Haydt.

Other participants in the parade included Weissport Police Chief Matthew Williams; Weissport Mayor, Paulette Watson; members of the Weissport Borough Council Aimee Shank, Brenda Leiby, Joe Foster, Arland Moyer, Thomas Ketchledge, and James Osbourne; members of Weissport Local Veterans Wallace Putkowski, 1987 Graduate of U.S. Military Academy, West Point, as Army Engineer, and his daughter, Alexandra, a U.S. Navy Veteran; Vietnam Veterans Club of Carbon County; and Carbon County Veterans Affairs Director Christine M. LeClair.

The Pennsylvania State Police, Lehighton Police Department, Carbon County Sheriff’s office, Lehighton Fire Company and Franklin Township Fire Company had vehicles in the parade.

Also taking part were Carbon County Fair Queen Kiersten Gursky; Shayla Cotterman; Carbon County Republicans; State Sen. David G. Argall; State Rep. Doyle Heffley and his wife, Kellie; Boy Scout Troop 145 of Lehighton; Pharoah’s Car Club of Carbon County; The Times News; Jacob’s Weissport Historical Society; The Behler Foundation; Jim Melber Sr. and Jr.; I Buy Power Sports Inc.; and the Lehighton Area High School Marching Band.