WEST PITTSTON — The West Pittston Cherry Blossom Festival Committee is filled with dedicated volunteers, making it difficult to name a Grand Marshal for this year.
So, they named two.
Ralph Salerno, of West Pittston, and Bob Messina, of Harding, both committee volunteers since 1981, were named co-Grand Marshals for this year’s parade which will be held at noon on Saturday, May 6.
Pat Messina, president of the Cherry Blossom Festival Committee and Bob’s brother, said the committee elected to name two Grand Marshals because whoever wasn’t named this year would have been named next year.
“Both are on the committee and instead of prolonging it to name one next year, we figured we’d name two,” he said. “It’s hard to say ‘you get it this year and you get it next.’ We thought we’d just do both at the same time.”
To be a Grand Marshal, one must be a member of the festival committee. There are currently 10 volunteers, according to Salerno, of West Pittston.
Salerno also said the Grand Marshal has no obligations except to be at the front of the parade lineup.
“The Grand Marshal just leads off the parade and that’s about it,” he said.
The parade begins at noon at Cenera Auto Parts on Exeter Avenue and make its way to Wyoming Avenue, then on to Philadelphia Avenue and conclude at the festival grounds on Susquehanna Avenue.
Aside from being volunteers with the Cherry Blossom Committee, both Salerno and Messina are avid volunteers within the community and often with the same organizations.
They volunteered for the now defunct Goodwill Fire Hose Company, are Scout leaders with Boy Scout Troop 302 and volunteer with the Moose Lodge 1207.
Messina also volunteered as an EMT and Salerno volunteers with the West Pittston Lions Club.
“I like to volunteer,” said Messina.
In addition to leading the parade, the men help organize and set up the Cherry Blossom Festival to be held May 6 and Sunday, May 7 and is celebrating its 46th year.
The festival includes games, various foods, pony rides, a bounce house, arts and crafts, the Little Miss Cherry Blossom contest, a performance from the Wyoming Area Drama Club and musical entertainment.
Messina said setting up tents and stages will begin soon as it takes a while.
“It takes, from start to finish, takes two weeks to set this festival up and it takes two hours to knock it down,” he said. “Everybody’s got a job and they know what to do. The actual tents will start going up on a Wednesday and then it’s non-stop from there.”
The festival events take place along Susquehanna Avenue, just off the Firefighter’s Memorial Bridge.
Both men said they’re hoping for a good turnout to kick off summer events and that Mother Nature will comply.
“People have been inside all winter long and they’re ready for something and to get outside,” Salerno responded. “If the weather corresponds and we have two good days, this place will be packed.”
