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Memorial Day was commemorated in Berks County, Pennsylvania, on Monday (May 26) with a series of parades, ceremonies, and remembrances to honor those who sacrificed their lives for the country. The Combined Veterans Council of Berks County organized ceremonies in Reading at Veterans Grove in City Park and at the Civil War Monument in Charles Evans Cemetery, where attendees paid tribute to fallen service members.
In Shillington, the community celebrated its 97th annual Memorial Day Parade, organized by the American Legion Reber-Moore Post 635. The parade began at Shillington Park and proceeded through town, featuring local marching bands, bagpipes, and classic cars. Residents lined the streets to show their appreciation for veterans and first responders.
Exeter Township also hosted a parade, with fire trucks and retro cars driving through the streets as community members cheered. Mohnton held a parade and ceremony that included military vehicles and a large American flag carried by a Boy Scout troop.
In addition to these events, a ceremony at the Highlands at Wyomissing featured a Vietnam veteran narrating the day's program, which included a review of past wars and the monuments erected to honor veterans. "We're going to review several of the past wars in which servicemen and women died and we're going to remember them," said veteran Gerard Johnson, according to WFMZ.
The events across Berks County highlighted the community's dedication to remembering those who served and sacrificed for the nation, with a variety of activities and ceremonies bringing people together to honor the fallen.