9 vets who gave all will be honored at 19th Mercer Memorial Day 500

Ty Kohler, Allied News, Grove City, Pa.
·3 min read

May 21—MERCER — The 19th annual Mercer Memorial Day 500 is right around the corner, with plans being completed for the annual event that honors those who died in the nation's service.

The event, held in the county seat in Mercer, aims to remind people that Monday isn't a leisure holiday: It's a day to honor the veterans who give us the freedom to enjoy the other 364 days of the year.

The event gets its name from the 500 U.S. flags that will be placed along the streets of Mercer.

This year's event honors nine Mercer County residents who died in military service: Vietnam soldier Jimmy Forrester and eight who fought in the Middle East, Joshua McClimans, Doug Kashmer, Michael Marzano, Dan Brozovich, Michael McLaughlin, David Veverka, Shawn Graham and David Wallace.

The festivities begin Sunday night with a "Salute to Service" concert starting at 6 p.m.. at the courthouse. The concert will include country music by Chris Higbee with a special guest performance by country/rock singer Kevin Dale.

Memorial Day events will start at 8 a.m. with a coffee and doughnut breakfast. The Jason Michaels Memorial 5k race will follow at 8:30 a.m.

Anyone interested in running the race can sign up for $35 at https://runsignup.com/Race/PA/Mercer/JasonMichaelsMemorial5k.

Runners that participate will receive a travel mug and a goodie bag. Medals will be given to the top three overall male and female finishers plus the top three finishers in each of the fcategories 19 and under, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70 and over.

At 9 a.m. more music will begin as the Basement Band take the band stage and play a range of selections, including rock and pop classics, acoustic favorites, country and praise for all to enjoy. Vendors will also be around the courthouse starting at this time.

After the race and the music, an honoree ceremony will occur at the bandstand, which is behind the courthouse, followed by the main attraction, the annual parade, which starts at 11 a.m.

The day will end after the parade with a service at Mercer Citizens Cemetery to recognize these honorees:

—Jimmy Forrester, Mercer — Killed in action Feb. 1, 1966, during the Vietnam War in Binh Dinh Province while serving as a sergeant with the First Cavalry Division. Forrester also served with the 82nd Airborne Division.

—Joshua McClimans, Jamestown — Killed in action April 22, 2011, in Salerno, Afghanistan, while serving as a captain with the 848th Forward Surgical Team.

—Doug Kashmer, Sharon — Killed in action June 8, 2005, in Nippur, Iraq, while serving as a specialist with the Army 70th Transportation Company.

—Michael Marzano, Greenville — Killed in action May 7, 2005, in Hadithah, Iraq, while serving as a sergeant with the Marines 3rd Battalion. A VA outpatient clinic in Hermitage is named in his honor.

—Dan Brozovich, Greenville — Killed in action Oct. 18, 2006, in Ashraf, Iraq, while serving as a sergeant first class with the Army 1st Battalion.

—Michael McLaughlin, Mercer — Killed in action Jan. 5, 2006, in Ramadi, Iraq, while serving as a lieutenant colonel with the Pennsylvania Army National Guard. His wife, Tammy, works as Mercer County's director of Veterans' Affairs.

—David Veverka, Jamestown — Killed in action May 6, 2006, in Ad Diwaniyah, Iraq, while serving as a staff sergeant with the Army 3rd Battalion

—Shawn Graham, Grove City — Killed in action Sep. 25, 2005, in Baghdad, Iraq, while serving as a sergeant with the Texas Army National Guard.

—David Wallace, Sharpsville — Killed in action Jan. 27, 2009, in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, while serving as a sergeant with the Marines 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion. The bridge that carries North Walnut Street in Sharpsville over the Shenango River has been named in his honor.