Memorial Day remembrances kick off in Greater Pittston tomorrow with parades in Wyoming/West Wyoming and West Pittston/Exeter, with both starting in the morning.
The Wyoming/West Wyoming Memorial Day Parade will begin at 9:15 a.m. in West Wyoming and travel on Eighth Street to Wyoming Avenue before turning left and ending with a program at the Wyoming Cemetery. This year’s guest speaker is veteran Wyoming Area graduate and faculty member Debbie Przybyla.
The West Pittston/Exeter Memorial Day Parade will step off at 11:30 a.m. next to the West Pittston Cemetery on Wyoming Avenue, travel south on Route 11 and end at Wyoming Area Catholic where Wyoming Area graduate Rear Adm. Scott Giberson will be the guest speaker.
I’ve known Debbie for many years. Service to country is something that runs deep in her family where her dad and her son proudly served our country.
In recent years, I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know Scott through his family and through an article I penned about him just a few years ago.
This past October, Scott was chosen one of the top 100 veterans over the last 100-years — a tremendously huge accomplishment. Some notables on the list are: Col. Pappy Boyington, Maj. Audie Murphy (the most decorated service member), Brig. Gen. Chuck Yeager, Capt. John McCain, Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf, Jr., Gen. Colin Powell and Gen. John “Black Jack” Pershing.
In 2014, then acting deputy Surgeon General giberson ended up in Liberia where he led the efforts in opening a 25-bed hospital to combat the Ebola epidemic. Over the next six months, the hospital was manned around the clock, treating 42 patients.
Both Debbie and Scott are incredible stories that have come right out of the west side and Wyoming Area. They are excellent examples of leading by example.
If you’re interested in hearing two local veterans, I’d recommend catching both programs after each parade.
Centenarians
Very often, we hear a lot of negative talk about the cancer rates in our area. Granted, that may be true, but rarely do we hear about are aging population.
Chester Montante, of Pittston, will turn 100 years old on May 30. Bill Hastie, a West Pittston native, will turn 100 on May 28 and they will join people like Michael Augello, Sr. (100) and Dr. John Markarian who will turn 102 this summer.
Interestingly enough, Montante and Augello graduated from the same class at Pittston High in 1937. To take it further, both served in Europe adjacent to each other’s location and Chester would grab a military truck to drive to Mike’s base for a cooked meal by Augello. Some things never change. Even at 100, the elder Augello still goes into the family owned Gramercy Restaurant to make a pot of soup.
There was a day when turning 100 years old was unheard of. These days, folks are living well into their 80s and 90s with regularity and, in most cases, many appear to be younger then they really are.
Even organizations are turning 100 this year like the West Pittston Women’s Club that celebrated that milestone this past week.
A few weeks ago, I covered Kingston’s American Legion Post 395’s 100th birthday celebration.
One hundred years is a long time and a lot of history gone by, as well.
The first article I had to write about a centenarian was an assignment for the Abington Journal in 2014 when Ruth Crounse turned 100.
Up until that point in my life, I had never met someone who was 100 years old and, I admit, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Lets face it; it’s a tremendous milestone.
Ruth was very pleasant and you knew she was happy to be surrounded by family, but her daughter said her mind was starting to get a bit cloudy. A bit cloudy? I have decades to go before I hit 100 and my mind is cloudy now!
The only common denominator I’ve seen from the centenarians I’ve met is their hearing isn’t up to par. Again, with decades away from being 100, my hearing isn’t up to par, either.
As I said, Mike Augello is going into work and making soup, Chester Montante was planting tomatoes last week and, not too long ago, John Markarian was playing golf fairly regularly.
As a matter of fact, I believe John was hitting tennis balls with Don Cassetori into his 90s.
How is it possible to reach the golden age of 100 and still be productive?
It could be in the genes. It could be clean living. It could even be what they eat.
Maybe it’s all three. Chester Montante swears that drinking milk is one of the ingredients that has kept him going. Who am I to doubt that?
He’s led a happy life. He’s mild-mannered, he used to play golf as a sport, and the only alcohol he enjoys is red wine. So what could it be?
One study proved that most people who reach 100 all have one thing in common and that is purpose.
Now that is something I can put my money on … that and genetics.
Quote of the week
“Some people live an entire lifetime and wonder if they have made a difference in the world. A veteran doesn’t have that problem.” – President Ronald Reagan
Thought of the week
“Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Be kind. Always.” – Brad Meltzer, American novelist
Bumper sticker
“Every failure is a step to success.” – William Whewell, English scientist
