Sgt. Thomas Jones will be the grand marshal of the Tamaqua American Legion CH Berry Post 173 annual Veterans Day parade.

The parade will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday, with staging to start at 9:30 a.m. on the 900 block of East Broad Street.

Jones is a 1964 graduate of Tamaqua Area High School and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps that same year. For 12 months during the Vietnam War, he was stationed aboard the USS Boston (CAG-1) in Vietnam and served in the subsequent four years at the Marine Corps Recruitment Depot in Parris Island, South Carolina.

Upon discharge from the Marines in 1968, Jones worked as a lineman for PPL. He retired in 2010 after a 41-year career and having been promoted to the position of line leader.

He is married to Tony (Andrukitis) Jones, with whom he has one son, David Jones of Alexandria, Virginia. The couple lives in the New England Valley.

The Poppy Queen is Isabelle Swartz, daughter of Ray and Kimberly Swartz of Tamaqua and the sister of Michael Pratka. She attends first grade at Tamaqua Area Elementary School and is a member of the Junior Auxiliary of the Tamaqua Legion.

The American Legion Honor Guard will begin the parade with an honor volley at the Rahn Township War Memorial. The procession will then travel through Tamaqua along Broad Street and will include members of the American Legion Color and Honor guards, Tamaqua Area Marching Band, members of the Tamaqua Borough Council, 2024 Tamaqua Chamber of Commerce award winners and several other local organizations and dignitaries.

All Tamaqua area businesses and organizations are welcome to participate, and veterans of the United States Armed Forces are especially encouraged to walk in the parade, regardless of their membership status in the American Legion.

The public is asked to display their patriotism and show their support for veterans by attending the parade.

A brief public service led by Jack Kulp will be held outside the American Legion, 206 W. Broad St., following the parade.

Refreshments will be provided.

Last year, Tamaqua was selected by the Veterans Day National Committee as a regional site for Veterans Day commemoration. Only 66 sites were chosen nationwide for their ongoing efforts within the community that support local veterans.

For more information or to register for the parade, contact Dave Meredith at 570-668-3356 or the Tamaqua American Legion at 570-668-1090.