Parade to celebrate 75th anniversary

The Berks County Department of Veterans Affairs is proud to be a major sponsor of the upcoming Berks County Armed Forces Day Parade on May 20.

As the oldest Armed Forces Day parade in the United States, the Berks County event will be celebrating its 75th anniversary this year. Diane Price, the chair of the Armed Forces Advisory Committee for 19 years, said the parade traces its roots to the 200th anniversary celebration of the City of Reading in 1948. The following year, Armed Forces Day was established nationwide as a way to recognize all the branches of the military in a unified celebration.

The Berks County parade serves as an annual presentation of support, recognition and honor for today’s military and the veterans in the community. Military units, bands, color guards, veterans groups, drill teams, floats and patriotic community organizations will all participate in the procession through the streets of West Reading.

Ken Lebron, Director of the Berks County Department of Veterans Affairs, is part of the committee with his Deputy Director George Bolton. Lebron said the parade is an important way for the Berks community to express gratitude to those who serve in the military while also inspiring the next generation.

Many of the parade participants are high school students involved in junior ROTC programs.

“This parade pays homage to past, present and future,” Lebron said. “It brings the community together and takes time to recognize the service and the sacrifice of our military service members, our veterans and their families.”

Meet Some Berks County Medical Society 2023 Executive Board Members

President: Bill Santoro, MD, FASAM

Chief, Division of Addiction Medicine, Tower Health

President-Elect: Ankit M. Shah, MD Emergency Medicine, Tower Health

Treasurer: Daniel A. Forman, DO Hematology & Oncology Specialist, Tower Health

Immediate Past-President: Jillian M. Ventuzelo, DO Family Medicine, Penn State Health St. Joseph

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Berks County Armed Forces Day Parade May 20, 2023 • 10 a.m. Rain or shine.

Route: Begins at 8th & Penn Avenue, right onto 3rd Avenue, right onto Spruce Street and then ends at 7th Avenue.

For more information or to get involved, email berksarmedforcesday@yahoo.com.

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