Military personnel to be remembered at Rockwood and Patriot Park events

Madolin Edwards and Beth Ann Miller, The Daily American
Updated ·3 min read

Two additional events are planned in Somerset County this weekend to honor the sacrifices of local and national military personnel.

Rockwood will dedicate its Veterans Memorial and Community Park at 11 a.m. Saturday in the park at the corner of Market and Main streets. Touch of Brass will provide music. There will be military and community speakers and a free meal provided to attendees. The park committee has worked to raise the funds to construct the park for more than seven years.

Memorial Day events: What's going on this Memorial Day? Here's what we know

And the Patriot Park Foundation will honor those military personnel lost in the Global War on Terrorism during a memorial ceremony at 7 p.m. Sunday at the Patriot Park Memorial, 6150 Lincoln Highway in Stoystown.

The program includes the reading of names of 10 military personnel who were killed in a combat zone over the past year, and the dedication of a new storyboard plaque to honor nine servicemen from A Company, 1st Battalion, 111th Infantry Unit of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard who were killed in Iraq in August 2005. The Bellwood Community Choir, directed by Richard Bower, will provide music at the ceremony, and the Central City VFW/American Legion Honor Guard will conduct the 21-gun salute and playing of Taps. More information about the ceremony can be found at patriotparkfoundation.org.

Memorial Day weekend traffic enforcement

State police troopers across the region will be out in force this Memorial Day weekend in the ongoing effort to save lives and keep roads and highways safe. In anticipation of increased vehicle traffic, from May 24 through May 27, state police will be specifically watching for distracted, aggressive and intoxicated motorists.

Busy Memorial Day weekend on Pennsylvania Turnpike

The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PA Turnpike) is preparing for the start of the summer travel season and reminding drivers to ramp up for seasonal travel. Friday, then Thursday of this week are expected to be the heaviest traffic days on the turnpike. Pennsylvania State Police Troop T will have increased patrols over the holiday weekend to respond to incidents as they unfold, ensure motorists are practicing proper driving habits and take action against illegal or unsafe behaviors such as speeding, aggressive and distracted driving.

The PA Turnpike will have an increased number of GEICO Safety Patrol safety teams throughout the roadway that are there to respond to travelers in need of assistance. All roadway construction and maintenance projects will be suspended beginning at 3 p.m. May 23 until 11 p.m. May 27, to ensure as many lanes are open as possible.

Those heading west Sunday should note traffic could be slower in the Somerset to New Stanton corridor from 3-5 p.m. as the Run for the Wallveterans organization is hosting a vehicle motorcade that will traverse the turnpike. More than 300 motorcyclists traveling from the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., and the Flight 93 National Memorial, will travel west from the Somerset Interchange, exit 110, starting at approximately 3:25 p.m. Sunday. The motorcade is planning a fueling stop at the New Stanton Service Plaza, milepost 77, around 3:55 p.m. before exiting at the New Stanton Interchange, exit 75, and continuing onto Interstate 70 toward their final destination at the Middle East Conflicts Wall Memorial in Illinois.

This article originally appeared on The Daily American: Military personnel to be honored at Rockwood park, Patriot park