`homegrown Music' Features George Wesley

Age-old Indian Festival Observed

By STEVE MOCARSKY smocarsky@leader.net
 Monday, November 12, 2001 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 1A 





Inspired with an invigorated sense of patriotism, hundreds of cheering,
flag-waving residents of Wyoming Valley lined the Veterans Day Parade route
through Kingston and Wilkes-Barre on Sunday afternoon. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``I think it was the best-attended parade I've ever seen,'' said Lt. Col.
Pat Riley, commander of the 92nd Aerial Port Squadron in Wyoming and parade
chairman. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ``There was a swell of patriotism in the crowd. I almost had tears in my
eyes at times,'' Riley said after leading his unit past the review stand on
Public Square in Wilkes-Barre. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Riley, who has marched in the last 15 local Veterans Day parades, thought
the attendance at Sunday's event was about 10 times greater than what he has
seen on past Veterans Days. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``It made me proud to be an American, proud of the people who are in
America.'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Gabrielle Malischak, Elizabeth Eckrote, Amanda Madajewski, Rachel Zerfoss,
Alyssa Urbanski and Leigh Ann Rentko were probably among the spectators who
brought a tear to the eyes of some parade participants. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The girls, all fifth- and sixth-grade students at Kennedy Elementary School
in Nanticoke, waved flags and belted out patriotic tunes such as ``You're A
Grand Old Flag'' and ``God Bless America'' as military units marched by them
on South Main Street in Wilkes-Barre. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 John Weida of Wilkes-Barre, who attended with his niece, two daughters and
girlfriend, said Sunday's crowd was ``at least equal to past Santa parades''
in the city. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``Oh my God, there's a lot more people here. The last parade we were at, it
was a sin there wasn't more people,'' said Renee Chandler of Kingston. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Chandler, who said she never misses a parade, thinks the turnout was higher
this year because people are inspired to show support for their country,
veterans and armed services personnel in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist
attacks. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``It's sad it takes something like that to get everyone out. But if that's
what it takes, it's great to see the spirit out now,'' Chandler said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Mild weather might also have been a factor that influenced the turnout. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Vietnam Army veteran Joe Kosmach of Mountaintop said cold morning
temperatures for past Veterans Day parades kept him and probably many others
from attending. He's glad this year's parade was in the afternoon, when the
weather was somewhat warmer. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Steve Mocarsky, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 459-2005. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
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Crowds Turn Out To Thank Area Vets