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Freedom rings in Bethel Park on Memorial Day

By Eleanor Bailey almanac Sports Editor ebailey@thealmanac.Net 8 min read
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By Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac

Jack Sigg waves American flags while getting a hug from his uncle, Giovanni Sigg, along the Bethel Park Memorial Day parade route.

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By Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac

Bill Magnotti (front) and Glenn Gross look at the names on the monuments at the Bethel Park Veterans’ Memorial Park.

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Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac

Peter and Brooke Thompson wait for more candy to be distributed during the Bethel Park Memorial Day parade.

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Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac

Chad Thompson embraces his daughter, Brooke, as the Bethel Park High School marching band passes during the Memorial Day parade. Thompson is the director of the band.

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Meghan Sigg hugs her son, Bryce, as the Memorial Day parade forms in the background.

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Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac

Leo Sigg sits in the lap of his father, Bryce, and awaits the arrival of the fire trucks featured in the Bethel Park Memorial Day parade. With ample ear protection, Sigg is well-prepared for the sirens and horns created by the emergency vehicles.

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Sgt. Jorge Zarate and USMC veteran Haya Eason carry a wreath to be placed at the Bethel Park Veterans' Memorial.

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Dan Duff, John Carberry, Catherine Carberry, Mike Dobos, and Bill Holden represented the Bethel Park Community Foundation during the annual Memorial Day parade.

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Bob Cooper of Upper St. Clair puts the finishing touches on decorations for the Model A that he drove in the Bethel Park Memorial Day Parade.

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Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac

Sgt. Jorge Zarate talks with retired Sgt. Robert Hruby.

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Sgt. Jorge Zarate and USMC veteran Haya Eason stand at attention after placing a wreath in front of the memorial at Bethel Park's Veterans' Memorial Park.

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Sgt. Jorge Zarate was the keynote speaker during the Bethel Park Memorial Day ceremony.

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Mayor Jack T. Allen greeted the crowd and delivered opening remarks during the memorial service held at the Bethel Park Veterans' Memorial.

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Members of the Bethel Park High School's Top 21 chorus provided patriotic music and sang the national anthem during Memorial Day ceremonies.

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Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac

Michele Prokopchak shakes hands with Taariq Darrabie prior to Bethel Park Memorial Day celebration events. Both served in the Marine Corps. A staff sergeant, Darrabie is responsible for recruiting in the South Hills area.

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Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac

Bethel Park High School band members belted out patriotic tunes during the Memorial Day parade.

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Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac

Veterans march down the main street during the Bethel Park Memorial Day parade.

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Children on the Y Guides and Princess Program float throw out candy and treats for spectators along the parade route.

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Staff Sgt. Taariq Darrabie talks to citizens while his wife, Anniezi, entertains their daughter, Sarabi, prior to the Memorial Day Ceremony.

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Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac

Anniezi Darrabie entertains her daughter, Sarabi, while waiting for the Memorial Day ceremonies to begin at Bethel Park.

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Joe Consolmagno lowers the flag to half-staff while Erine O'Brien plays Taps in the background.

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Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac

Boys scouts were among the many organizations to march during the Bethel Park Memorial Day parade.

Bill Magnotti and Glenn Gross of Bethel Park celebrate Memorial Day every day of the year.

“Every time I look at a flag, I think about this day,” said Magnotti of May 29, 2023.

“To me,” added Gross, “all the red in that flag stands for the blood that was shed for all of our freedoms. Those gentlemen made the ultimate sacrifice.”

Magnotti and Gross attended the festivities for Memorial Day in Bethel Park, and in the municipality there is a reason why the parade is sandwiched between two ceremonies that recognized the fallen heroes from all of the country’s military conflicts.

Magnotti attended the memorial services as well as the parade because he is both a veteran and a grandfather.

An Army veteran, Magnotti served during the Vietnam era. He worked in the military police department and processed refugees into Fort Indiantown Gap. His granddaughter, Victoria, is “in charge” of the high school cheerleaders, and his grandson, Gianni, is the second baseman on the baseball team that competed for the WPIAL title on May 30.

“I come to this event as often as I can. I do not march in the parade, but my grandkids do,” he said proudly. “Everybody in the community should be out here this day to honor the fallen heroes.

“We don’t have liberty and freedom without their sacrifices,” Magnotti continued. “For without them, we cannot celebrate all the things that we enjoy.”

Sgt. Jorge Zarate was enjoying a family barbecue when he realized why he enlisted in the Reserve upon graduation from Bethel Park High School. He was on leave from his duties as a gunner during a deployment in Afghanistan in 2011.

“I had been questioning, ‘What did I get myself into; why did I do this?’ When I was with my family and sat around looking at everybody enjoying the party, I said, ‘This is why.’ We joined (the armed forces) for various reasons, but the one solid reason is to protect families and loved ones,” Zarate said.

Zarate served as the guest of honor at this year’s Bethel Park Memorial Day Ceremony. Held prior to the parade, it also featured remarks from Mayor Jack T. Allen, the Rev. Jack Puskar from the Sons of the American Legion, council President Tim Moury and council Vice President Mark O’Brien, as well as patriotic and solemn music provided by the high school’s Top 21 Chorus. Senior trumpeters Daniel and Erine O’Brien performer Taps as council members Joe Consolmagno and John Oaks lowered the flags to half-staff for the holiday.

Zarate was also charged with placing the wreath at the veterans memorial with Haya Eason, a Marine Corps veteran.

During his oration, Zarate mentioned how a history project charted his career path. After his military stint, he embarked on a police career. He worked in Ohio Township, Lincoln Borough and Avalon before being employed by the city of Pittsburgh in 2017. He was hired by the municipality of Bethel Park in January 2022.

As an an Independence Middle School student, Zarate and his classmates were assigned a project to speak to a World War II veteran. At age 13, he had just moved from his native California. He said he didn’t know anybody his age let along a veteran. However, his mother, Olivia, located one, who ended up being a neighbor who served in the Navy.

“He told me a few stories that opened my eyes to the experience,” Zarate said. “Without individuals like him and those that paid the ultimate price, we would not be able to stand here today.

He encouraged the audience to not forget these brave men and women as well as to honor them by setting a better example for the current and future generations.

“Let us remember what they fought and died for. Honor them by remembering they are the reason why we are have one of the greatest countries in the world.”

He added that the responsibility of veterans is not done yet. “We have to assure future generations understand the importance of Memorial Day by educating our family and friends to understand the significance of this day. It’s our duty to remember the fallen. It’s a heavy burden to bear, but if we share that burden it will lighten the load for all of us.”

The load for Dan Duff and his fellow Bethel Park Community Foundation was heavy as he along with John and Catherine Carberry, Mike Dobas and Bill Holden distributed more than 1,000 bags of candy to spectators along a parade route that started at the Veterans Memorial and ended at the Bethel Cemetery for a final salute to military heroes.

Duff noted that the Memorial Day parade is one of the biggest events for the community and that the turnout along the route features at least 1,000 youngsters.

“It’s why we give out the candy,” he said. “Memorial Day is the unofficial beginning of summer events. What a better way to do that than to show our respect and appreciation for the military and people in service for us.”

Caroline O’Brien agreed. She joined Kevin and Lynn Sheahan, who walked their dog in the parade. Dagney, a double doodle who is half Labrador and golden, was adorned with a red, white and blue bow around his neck.

“I love the parade and the band,” O’Brien said. “I have enjoyed it since I was little. This is a beautiful way to honor our veterans who have served our country.”

Bob Cooper of Upper St. Clair loves a parade, too. For years, he and his family have ridden a horse-drawn carriage down the main streets of Bethel Park and other areas. This year, Cooper drove the crew in a 1934 Model A.

“We moved up a couple of decades,” he said with a chuckle.

Members of the local Ford Model A Club, the Cooper clan also participated in the White Oak Memorial Day festivities.

“We love getting out and supporting our veterans and those who made the ultimate sacrifice,” Cooper said. “It’s a good way to celebrate America.”

Gross added that one of the best things he did was follow in his family’s footsteps and serve the nation. His dad was a WWII veteran that served in the Pacific theater. His younger cousin served in Vietnam in search-and-destroy missions. Plus, all of his uncles were in the military.

Gross dubbed himself a “Cold War” veteran. He was in the Army and was stationed in Nuremberg, Germany, for two-and-a-half years.

“One of the best things I ever did,” Gross said of his service. “It got me to see how other societies live. People should not judge this country until they live in another one. This is the greatest country on the planet with the most freedom, even today.”

Magnotti agreed. He concluded that Memorial Days drive home that point.

“As a country today we are somewhat divided. I don’t know if it’s a generational or idealogical issue, but it is days like this when we should come together and celebrate those who gave their lives for the freedoms we enjoy.”

Brooke and Peter Thompson love a parade and not just because they receive as much candy as they do when they go trick-or-treating on Halloween.

The youngsters love parades like the Memorial Day event in Bethel Park because their father is the band director. Chad Thompson is out front with the majorettes and Bethettes, leading the Bethel Park High School marching band.

“Candy and my daddy are my favorites of the parade,” said Peter, 5.

“Seeing the band and getting the candy,” added Brooke, 8, “I came to see my dad.”

Both have inherited their father’s ear and love for music. Brooke is learning to play the piano but is more interested in the violin. Peter plays the drums.

“Yes, I want to play in the band some day,” he said.

Since Brooke’s instrument choices are not featured in a marching band, she wishes to participate in one of the auxiliary groups. Majorette just might suit her.

“Miss Megan said I should be a baton twirler because I threw a baton in the air and caught it,” Brooke said. “I really want to get a baton.”

Long before Brooke and Peter were born, Theresa followed the Bethel Park band because she is married to its leader.

“I’ve been coming to this since before they were born and because we have lived in Bethel Park,” she said.

Theresa actually is a Shaler graduate. The irony was not lost on her when informed that the baseball team would face the Titans in the WPIAL Class 5A championship game the following day.

“That’s so funny,” she said. “I am a Blackhawk person but I still love Shaler.”

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