Newtown Salutes The Fallen During Memorial Day Parade, Ceremonies

NEWTOWN, PA — From the solitude of the Newtown Cemetery to Veterans Plaza on historic State Street, Taps split the morning air as Newtown remembered the nation’s fallen heroes.

On Monday morning, the town’s Memorial Day Parade stepped off from the Newtown Business Commons pausing first at the Newtown Cemetery where veterans from American Legion Post 440 rendered honors and fired salutes at the gravesites of Nathaniel DeTample and Morell Smith.

PFC Nathanial DeTample, U.S. Army National Guard, died on Aug. 9, 2005, supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom in Bayji, Iraq, when a mine exploded and enemy forces attacked using small arms fire. Before he became a soldier, DeTample was an Eagle Scout, a wrestler, and a Criminal Justice student at Shippensburg University. He was 19 when he died, and is survived by his parents, Glenn and Kim.

They also paused at the grave of Morell Smith, who died fighting for his country in Oct. 1918 during World War I. The Newtown American Legion Post bears his name in memory of his sacrifice.

“Though these flowers may wither, the spirit for which they were intended will endure until the end of time,” said John Houck, American Legion Post Commander, who joined senior vice commander Kyle Davis and Chaplain Brian Mills in placing a wreath on the two graves.

Rejoining the parade on Washington Avenue, the veterans next paused at the World War I monument in front of the Newtown Library Company, where they laid a wreath, saluted the men and women who gave their lives in the cause of freedom and paused as the Council Rock North Band played “Going Home.”

As the town remembered its fallen heroes on Monday, they waved flags and cheered as local veterans led the march through town bearing the nation’s colors and looking sharp in their military uniforms.

Escorted through town by Newtown Borough Police Chief James Sabath, a Color Guard made up of local veterans led the march followed by Post 440 Commander Houck, Vice Commander Kyle Davis, Chaplain Mills, and a parade of local veterans walking and riding the parade route.

Joining the veterans for the parade was the award-winning Council Rock High School North Marching Band, which performed a musical salute to the U.S. Armed Services as they marched through town with flags twirling and instruments playing.

Newtown Fire Rescue joined the march the volunteers marching by in their snappy dress uniforms, followed by a parade of fire trucks. The Newtown Ambulance Squad also joined the parade.

Local politicians also joined the march, including Mayor John Burke and members of the Newtown Borough Council and the Township Board of Supervisors. State Senator Steve Santarsiero was also part of parade.

The parade also included local Scouting organizations, the Council Rock Newtown Baseball Association, the 1st Volunteers from Crossing Community Church, American Legion Post 440

baseball team; military vehicles; Broken Arrow Ranch; the Hibernians; and much more.

At the Newtown Borough Hall, festively decorated in red, white and blue bunting, the parade paused for a brief Memorial Day ceremony.

The veterans led the gathering in prayer, welcomed the public to the town’s Memorial Day observance and laid a wreath at Veterans Plaza followed by the playing of Taps. The guest speaker was highly-decorated Vietnam War hero David Christian.

Following the ceremony, the parade reformed and continued its march south on State Street and west
on Centre and the Richboro Road before concluding at the Post home on Linden Avenue.