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SERVICE, SACRIFICE & APPRECIATION! veterans including Tuskegee Airman Dr. Eugene Richardson Jr., James Ziegelhoffer, Ruthie Severino, and representatives of the PA Veterans Museum.
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rom simple acts of gratitude, to elaborate parades, America honors all those who served on Veterans Day and the yearly celebration was back in full swing in Media, Delaware County, at 11:11 a.m. on November 11, 2021, with the theme of Afghanistan Veterans. The 61st annual parade included six divisions of veteran soldiers, sailors and Marines who received a warm welcome from the assembled thousands that filled the town to welcome them. In addition to veterans, five marching bands, historic reenactors, fire trucks First Responders, and veteran supporters took part in the hour-long parade, reportedly the largest in Pennsylvania. For so many Veterans, this day is about more than just a parade, it is about service, sacrifice and appreciation. For 61 years, the parade has been just a small way to say thank you to all those who have served. The celebration featured vocalist Ashli Rian Rice, who performed America the Beautiful, A Hero, and God Bless America. Her vocal ability is indeed world class, as it has been described by the Philadelphia Inquirer. You may have heard of Ashli; she has been the featured national anthem singer for the Major League Soccer team, The Philadelphia Union, rendering the National Anthem for the last 3 seasons; she has performed her rendition of the anthem for the National Soccer Coaches Convention at the Pennsylvania Convention Center; and most recently, Ashli performed the anthem at the Wells Fargo Center for the NCAA champions Villanova basketball team. A fine set of speakers graced the steps of the Media Courthouse in celebration of our Veterans in 2021, including: Media’s own, Mayor Bob McMahon; Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon; Congressman Conor Lamb (Western PA); PA Attorney General Josh Shapiro; and two Delaware County school students who won a veterans essay contest. Also present were numerous
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The celebration welcomed Cedric Leighton, a retired United States Air Force Colonel and intelligence officer, as the Grand Marshal of the parade. During his 26-year Air Force career, Colonel Leighton served in a variety of intelligence assignments. These ranged from tactical tours with a mobile Signals Intelligence squadron to headquarters assignments at the Pentagon. He deployed five times to the Middle East, witnessed the fall of the Berlin Wall, and coordinated sensitive intelligence operations while assigned to US Special Operations Command. While serving in the Pacific Theater, Colonel Leighton provided extensive intelligence training to allied and partner nation military forces. He developed an innovative intelligence dissemination system that was implemented on 9/11 and is still in use today. Colonel Leighton provided extensive over-the-horizon intelligence support to US and Coalition forces in Afghanistan and was the key provider of specialized intelligence support for the “Shock and Awe” phase of Operation Iraqi Freedom. For these efforts, he was awarded the Bronze Star. After serving as a Squadron Commander, Colonel Leighton served as the Deputy Director for Warfighter Support and Integration in the Intelligence Directorate of the Joint Staff at the Pentagon and then became the Deputy Director of Training for the National Security Agency. In addition to the Bronze Star, Colonel Leighton’s other awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, 7 Meritorious Service Medals, and the Humanitarian Service Medal. In his post-military career, Colonel Leighton is a strategic and cyber risk consultant and serves as a Military Analyst for CNN. He is heavily involved in the effort to bring our Afghan allies to safety. “I submit that the challenge of our times is that the valor of our veterans has continually secured our freedoms for over 245 years and no matter the challenge, the American veteran is unique among warriors. We do not seek riches, we do not seek plunder, we do not pillage, and instead the American veteran brings freedom… not just to our citizens but to people all over the world.” … Colonel Leighton NB: While we celebrate our Veterans each and every day, Governor Tom Wolf on October 6, 2021, signed Senate Bill 248, which establishes Persian Gulf War Veterans Day on March 6, Global War on Terrorism Veterans Day on October 7, and First
