First Posted: 5/16/2013

VFW Post #4909 will sponsor this year’s Dupont Memorial Day activities along with the cooperation of AMVETS Post #189 and American Legion Post #657 on Monday, May 27.

Veterans and veteran supporters are called to meet 8 a.m. at the Dupont V.F.W on Main Street. At 8:30 a.m. a memorial service will be held at the Polish National Cemetery.

The veterans will then go to the Sacred Heart Cemetery and conduct memorial services immediately following Mass at the Sacred Heart Church.

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Parade participants will assemble at 10 a.m. at the VFW parking lot on Grant Street. John Kunicki, a decorated U.S. Army WWII artillery soldier, is the Parade Marshall. Thomas M. Marcilio, Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Marines, a Judge Advocate General (JAG) Officer as a prosecutor, defense attorney and legal services officer, is the principal speaker.

Following the parade and services at the Dupont Borough Memorial Lawn, all participants are invited for food and refreshments. Youngsters will be served at the Dupont Hose Company and adults at the VFW Post Home.

Thomas M. Marsilio

Principal speaker Thomas M. Marsilio was born on Sept. 28, 1948.

He is a son of late Commander and Mrs. Nicholas Marsilio and a Hazleton High School Honor graduate class of ‘66.

After graduation, he went to the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis MD. In New London, Ct. at the Naval Justice School he finished as an honor graduate. He served in the Marine Corps active duty 1970 to 1975. His duty stations included Mojave Desert, 29 Palms California and the Sahara Desert Morocco, North Africa.

Since 1976, Captain Marsilio served the Marine Corps Reserve at Wyoming, Allentown and Willow Grove. He was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Organized Marine Corps Reserve Medal and the Armed Forces Reserve Medal. He furthered his education at Penn State Dickinson Law School, graduating in 1981.

He also studied at DuBoise, Wyoming Trial Lawyers College graduating in 2003. Attorney Marsilio practices law from his Wilkes-Barre office as a trial attorney in criminal defense and civil law. He is a strong supporter of the “Veterans Court Program.”

Marsilio is a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association, a life member of Hazleton American Legion Post 076, a life member of the White Haven Marine Corps League and life member of the Retired Officers Association (ROA)

He lives in Mountain Top with his wife, Murtie Lou. They are parents to six children and five grandchildren.

Parade line-up

Division 1 – Assemble on Grant Street

Police Department, Color Guard, Walking Veterans / Ladies Auxiliary, Mayor, Council and guests.

Division 2 – Assemble behind the V.F.W.

Pittston Area Band and Pittston Ares Cheerleaders

Division 3 – Assemble on Grant Street

Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Avoca/Dupont Little League, Dupont Athletic Association, Lynette’s Twirlerettes, Duryea Wildcats,

Dupont Crime Watch, Liberty Tax girls softball team

Division 4 – Assemble V.F.W. Main Parking lot

Classic cars with Parade Marshall and guest speaker, veterans, ladies auxiliary and guests

AMVETS Honor Guard Van #1 and Van #2, Polka Lites, Y.M.S.R, Sacred Heart Holy Name Society

Division 5 – Assemble Main Street VFW Parking Lot

Dupont Lions Club and Leo Club, LCTA trolley, Anthracite Rose Group, extra cars, Liberty Tax Service, Rolling Thunder, Maureen Knick – 10 Harleys.

Division 6 – Assemble Main Street, Curtain Street

Fire trucks, ambulances, other vehicles