Wyoming Valley veterans parade might be next COVID cancellation

Aug. 20--For the first time in its 76-year history, the Wyoming Valley Veterans Day Parade is in jeopardy of not being held.

Wilkes-Barre Mayor George Brown, who also is a member of the parade committee, told organizers on Wednesday he's leaning toward canceling the annual event, set for Nov. 8, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The parade has been held every year since November 1945, about a month after the end of World War II. This year's theme is slated to be "Celebrating 75 years since the end of World War II.

"The parade has gone on every year since 1945 with no stopping. They have had it in the pouring rain. We've never canceled this parade," said Susan Allen, a retired Naval officer who is parade chairwoman.

Allen said she was speaking about the magnitude of the decision and not advocating that "tradition is more important than safety."

A final decision is likely to be made at the parade committee's next meeting on Sept. 16. All committee members are encouraged to attend and offer input.

"We have to decide as a team what we think is best and align that with the governor's recommendations," Brown said.

Under the state's coronavirus mitigation restrictions, no large gatherings of 250 or more people are allowed. Organizers said they weren't immediately sure how that would apply if people and marchers were socially distanced over a blocks-long parade route through two municipalities.

"It's a tough call," said parade committee member Rob Sax, a Navy veteran who is a commissioner in Plains Twp.

The decision could be made for organizers because Deputy Fire Chief Alan Klapat said the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is currently not approving road closures for social gatherings like parades during the coronavirus pandemic.

"The way I'm leaning right now is we're not going to have it. If nothing changes, I'm going to cancel it," Brown said.

Brown said he also has to make a decision about Wilkes-Barre's annual Christmas parade. He'll likely make the same decision about both parades, he said.

"If I allow us to have a veterans parade, odds are I'm going to allow us to have Christmas parade," Brown said. "If we don't have a veterans parade, odds are we won't have a Christmas parade."

Contact the writer:

bkalinowski@citizensvoice.com

570-821-2055; @cvbobkal

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