Memorial Day Services 2025: The Complete Washington County List

Claysville American Legion Post 639 in 2024

Veterans throughout Washington County are holding services this Memorial Day weekend to honor the men and women who died while defending our great nation.

Sadly, we have lost over 1.7 million men and women to war since the birth of our nation and this figure doesn't include those who have died from disease and accidents. It's our duty as a nation to properly identify, locate, and honor our war dead.

As a son and grandson of veterans, a Marine Corp veteran, chaplain of the local American Legion, and chairman of the state and national law and order committees, and other veterans' organization, I have participated in many Memorial Day ceremonies over the years.

Memorial Day has been important to me ever since I was a young child; therefore, I would like to let Washington County residents know where and when their local Memorial Day services are being held this year. I hope everyone will take the time during this national holiday to participate in one of the following services that will be held this Sunday and Monday.

And if you get the chance, please be sure to thank one of the many veterans who have dedicated their time to conduct these annual services.

Washington County Memorial Day Services 2025

                        

Claysville Cemetery

National Cemetery of the Alleghenies

11 a.m. Sunday, May 25, 2025 a Memorial Day Remembrance with Keynote Speaker Mr. Rocky Bleier, Pittsburgh Steeler and decorated Vietnam Veteran. A solemn Memorial Day wreath laying ceremony will be held, accompanied by speeches, a moment of silence, a rifle salute by the U. S. Marine Corps League 1138 Honor Guard and the playing of Taps by Tom and Rob Beaver.  Musical presentations will be performed by the Canon-McMillan High School Band and “Bella Voce” choir, the South Hills Keystone Chorus and by our Bagpiper, Ms. Kate Matthews.
This ceremony is opened to the public and all members of the community are welcome to attend. For more information, please call the cemetery main office at 724-746-4363 Monday – Friday 8:00am to 4:00pm.

Amwell Township Community Memorial Day Service

• 10 a.m. Saturday, May 24, 2025 on the lower lawn of the Lower Ten Mile Presbyterian Church in Amity. This will include a recognition of veterans. Refreshments will follow.

Bentleyville American Legion Post 165

Memorial Day services will be held Monday, May 26, 2025, at the honor rolls in the following communities:

• 8 a.m. Somerset Township, 615 Vanceville Road, Eighty Four
• 8:30 a.m. North Bethlehem / Scenery Hill, 2128 E. National Pike, Scenery Hill
•   9 a.m. Cokeburg, 41 Washington Street, Cokeburg
• 9:30 a.m. Ellsworth, 21 South Main Street, Ellsworth
• 11 a.m. Bentleyville, 511 Main Street, Bentleyville
• A luncheon will follow at the Bentleyville American Legion Post 165, 500 Main Street, Bentleyville

Burgettstown Area Memorial Day Services:

• 8 a.m. Paris Cemetery
• 8:15 a.m. Chestnut Ridge Cemetery
• 8:30 a.m. Grandview Cemetery
• 8:50 a.m. Langeloth Honor Roll
• 9:10 a.m. Eldersville Honor Roll
• 9:30 a.m. Cross Creek Cemetery
• 9:45 a.m. Atlasburg VFW,1540 Smith Township State Road, Atlasburg
• 10:15 a.m. Slovan VFW, 65 Run Street, Slovan
• 10:35 a.m. Fairview Cemetery
• 10:50 a.m. Cherry Valley Honor Roll
• 11:10 a.m. Bulger Honor Roll
• 11:25 a.m. Joffre Honor Roll
• 11:40 a.m. Our Lady of Lourdes Cemetery
• 11:55 a.m. Burgettstown American Legion, 1526 Main Street, Burgettstown

Cecil American Legion Post 793

• 11 a.m. Monday, May 26, 2025, a service will be held at the Cecil American Legion Post 793, 3323 Millers Run Road, Cecil.

Centerville American Legion Post 705

The following Memorial Day services will be held on Monday, May 26, 2025. All times listed are approximate.

• 7:30 a.m. Flag-raising ceremony, American Legion Post 705, 1101 Old National Pike,                   Fredericktown
• 7:40 a.m. Westland Cemetery, 598 Ridge Road, Brownsville
• 8:10 a.m. Centerville Honor Roll, 675 Old National Pike, Brownsville
• 8:20 a.m. Taylor Cemetery, 600 Old National Pike, Brownsville
• 8:35 a.m. East End Honor Roll, also known as the Denbo Heights Honor Roll
• 8:50 a.m. Denbo Honor Roll, 970 Main Street, Denbo
• 9:05 a.m. Low Hill Honor Roll, 415 Low Hill Road, Brownsville
• 9:25 a.m. Deemston Borough Building, 1622 Morey Road, Fredericktown
• 9:50 a.m. Beallsville Honor Roll, 2825 Main Street, Beallsville
• 10 a.m. Richeyville Honor Roll, 27 Firehall Road, Richeyville
• 10:35 a.m. West Pike Run Honor Roll, 462 Pike Run Drive, Daisytown
• 11 a.m. Centerville American Legion Post 705, 1101 Old National Pike, Fredericktown, to lower the flag and offer a final salute
•  Luncheon will follow at the legion hall

Charleroi American Legion Post 22

Memorial Day services will be held Monday, May 26, 2025, at the honor rolls in the following communities:

•  9 a.m. Speers Hill, near 1001 Guttman Avenue, Charleroi
•  9:30 a.m.  Fallowfield, 9 Memorial Drive, Charleroi
• 10 a.m. North Charleroi, 498 Lock Street, North Charleroi
• 11 a.m.  Charleroi, near 1 Chamber Plaza, Charleroi
• 12 p.m. Dunlevy, Wharf Street, Dunlevy

Claysville American Legion Post 639

The following services will be held on Monday, May 26, 2025. (There will be no services held this year at the Claysville or Purviance cemeteries.)

• 6:30 a.m. Reveille at the Claysville American Legion Post 639, 208 Main Street, Claysville followed by breakfast
•  9 a.m. Memorial Day service at the legion hall. This program will feature General Logan’s orders, Flanders Field, the Gettysburg Address, laying of the wreath and folding of the flag.
• 10 a.m. Memorial Day Parade will start at the east end of Claysville and end at the Claysville United Methodist Church.

Donora American Legion Post 212

• Sunday, May 25, 2025: Cookout and games at the Donora American Legion Post 212, 513 Meldon Avenue, Donora, 12 p.m. to close.
• Monday, May 26, 2025: Services will be held at the following sites beginning at 12 p.m.:

o   Donora War Memorial, McKean Avenue, between Chestnut and Walnut streets

o   St. Dominic Cemetery, Cemetery Road, Donora

o   Mon Valley Memorial Park (Veteran’s Section), 49 2^nd Street Extension, Donora

o   Delsandro Memorial, 587 Meldon Avenue, Donora

o   Luncheon at the Donora American Legion Post 212, 513 Meldon Avenue, Donora

Finleyville American Legion Post 613

Services will be held at the following locations on Sunday, May 25, 2025:

• 1 p.m. Stone Church Cemetery, Stone Church Road, Gastonville
• 1:15 p.m. St. Francis Cemetery, Venetia Road, Finleyville
• 1:30 p.m. Mingo Creek Cemetery, 598 Mingo Church Road, Finleyville
• 1:45 p.m. Finleyville Cemetery, Venetia and Churchill roads, Finleyville
• 2 p.m. Finleyville Community Center at 3547 Marion Avenue, Finleyville
• Food and drinks will be served at the Finleyville American Legion Post 613, 3533 Washington Avenue, Finleyville

Fredericktown American Legion Post 391

The following services will be held on Monday, May 26, 2025:

• 8:40 a.m. Buckingham Cemetery, 374 Buckingham Road, Fredericktown
• 8:55 a.m. Fredericktown Hill Cemetery, Fredericktown
• 9:15 a.m. Vestaburg Honor Roll, First and Community streets, Vestaburg
• 9:30 a.m. Fredericktown WWII Honor Roll
• 9:45 a.m. Newtown WWI Honor Roll
• 10 a.m. Mildred Hill Cemetery in Millsboro
• 10:20 a.m. Clarksville Honor Roll, 343 Center Street, Clarksville
• 10:45 a.m. at the Riverfront in Fredericktown: a short parade and the placing of a wreath on the Mon River in honor of those lost at sea.
• 11 a.m. a ceremony at the Fredericktown Veterans Memorial Park, 513 Front Street, Fredericktown
• Refreshments following at the Fredericktown American Legion, 501 Front Street, Fredericktown.

Marianna American Legion 744

The following services are on Sunday, May 25, 2025:

• 8:30 a.m. Pleasant Hill Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Ten Mile Road, Marianna
• 9 a.m. Franklin Cemetery, 51 Little Creek Road, Marianna
• 9:30 a.m. Dunkard Cemetery, Dunkard Church Road, Marianna
• 10 a.m. Highland Ridge Cemetery
• 10:30 a.m. Lone Pine Cemetery
• 11 a.m. Bethlehem Lutheran Cemetery, 21 Church Road, Scenery Hill
• 11:30 a.m. Saints Mary and Ann Cemetery, Oak Spring Road, Marianna
• 12 p.m. Horne Cemetery, Jefferson Avenue, Marianna
• 12:15 p.m. Russian Cemetery, Jefferson Avenue, Marianna
• 12:45 p.m. Marianna American Legion Post 744, 1743 Main Street, Marianna

McDonald Memorial Day Services

• 10:20 a.m. Robinson Township Honor Roll
• 10:30 a.m. Robinson  Run Cemetery
• 11 a.m. Parade with services to follow at the McDonald American Legion, 221 E. Lincoln Avenue, McDonald

Midway Memorial Day Services (in the event of rain the services will be held at the Midway Firehall, 99 John Street, Midway.)

• 9:30 a.m. Primrose & Midway Honor Rolls
• 10 a.m. Center Cemetery in Midway

Monongahela American Legion Post 302

• 9 a.m. Monday, May 26, 2025, Parade and ceremony at Monongahela Cemetery, 800 Country Club Road, in the veteran’s lot at the top of the hill.

Roscoe American Legion Post 801

Memorial Day Services start at 9 a.m. on Monday, May 26, 2025, with services at the following locations:

• 9 a.m. Elco Civic Center, 400 Route 88, Elco
• 9:15 a.m. Mt. Calvary Cemetery, 525 Dally Road, Coal Center
• 9:30 a.m. Coal Center Honor Roll, 128 Water Street, Coal Center
• 9:45 a.m. Liberty Circle Honor Roll, Liberty and Fourth streets, California
• 10 a.m. Howe Cemetery, 453 Dally Road, Coal Center
• 10:10 a.m. Long Branch Honor Roll, Long Branch
• 10:20 a.m. Twilight Honor Roll, Twilight
• 10:35 a.m. Mt. Tabor Cemetery, 255 Mt. Tabor Road, Coal Center
• 10:45 a.m. Allenport Honor Roll, 1850 Main Street, Allenport
• 10:55 a.m. Stockdale Honor Roll, Locust and Bow streets, Stockdale
• 11:05 a.m. Memorial Park at the Roscoe American Legion Post 801, 520 Furlong Avenue, Roscoe

Washington American Legion Post 175

Memorial Day Services will be held on Monday, May 26, 2025, at the following locations, beginning at 10 a.m.:

• American Legion Post 175, 168 Park Avenue, Washington
• Washington Cemetery, 498 Park Avenue, Washington
• Washington County Courthouse, 1 South Main Street, Washington
• Polish Cemetery in the Goat Hill section of Washington
• Jewish Cemetery, 130 Oak Spring Road, Washington

West Alexander American Legion & Auxiliary Post 656

The following will be held on Monday, May 26, 2025:

• 10:30 a.m. Memorial Day Parade, West Alexander
• 11 a.m. West Alexander Cemetery, 80 Liberty Road, West Alexander
•  Lunch at the West Alexander Fairgrounds, 116 Route 40, West Alexander

 (If a ceremony was inadvertently omitted, please contact Commissioner Maggi at maggil@co.washington.pa.us to be included on next year’s list.)

Claysville American Legion Post 639 Honor Guard

Larry Maggi

maggil@co.washington.pa.us

Highly Decorated Washington County Marine Honored

Update: Thomas D. Rizor passed away on Saturday, June 21, 2025. Friends may pay their respects from 3-7 p.m. on June 24, 2025, the hour of services at the Piatt and Barnhill Funeral Home, 420 Locust Avenue, Washington. All other services are private. Here is a link to his obituary:

 Thomas D. Rizor 1947-2025.

Marine Corp Veteran Thomas D. Rizor couldn’t stop smiling as he was honored by a veterans’ contingent on Tuesday morning at Transitions Health Care in Washington.

“I died and went to heaven, all of my friends are here,” he said as he looked around the room filled with family, friends, and representatives of the local Marine Corp League, American Legion Post 175 of Washington, American Legion Post 639 of Claysville, the Patriot Guard, the American Legion Riders, and the Washington County Veteran’s Affairs Office. His medical staff stood beaming in the doorway.

Tom, who is 78 years old and is a highly decorated military veteran from Washington, has been battling medical issues for over a year. He put on his best Marine Corp t-shirt for the event, which included the presentation of certificates, a Marine Corp flag, challenge coins, a Vietnam War pin, and most importantly – a beautifully decorated Marine Corp cake.

I was honored to present Tom with a certificate recognizing his many awards: a Bronze Star with Combat “V”; two Purple Hearts (one for his services in Vietnam and one for his stint in the Dominican Republic Conflict); a Good Conduct Medal; the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal; a Navy Unit Citation; a National Defense Service Medal; a Vietnam Service Medal with two stars; the Vietnam Campaign Medal with Device; the Expert Badge M-14 Rifle Medal; and the Sharpshooter Badge .45 Cal Pistol Medal.

Sixty years ago, Tom was part of Operation Power Pack, when the U.S. sent troops to the Dominican Republic on April 24,1965, due to unrest and communist attempts to take over the government. Marines and the Army 82nd Airborne served in this conflict, which resulted ten Marines and 13 members of the Army 82nd Airborne being killed in action and 283 wounded. Washington County lost U.S. Marine Pvt. Joe Crile during this conflict on May 19, 1965. Tom didn’t know Pvt. Crile, who received the medal of valor for his actions.

Stevie Rizor said her husband, who was a master electrician, didn’t talk much about his military service and therefore she was a bit shocked to find out that he was so highly decorated.

After receiving his awards, the veterans in the room gave him a proper salute and joined him in a rousing rendition of the Marines’ Hymn. He responded by raising his fists with an enthusiastic “Oorah!”

At the end of the ceremony, Tom enjoyed a piece of cake and many accolades.

“I was in the right place at the right time,” he said, still smiling.

Oorah!

Tom and his loving family!

Tom and his good friend Bill Oliverio.

Tom posed with me and his good friends
 Dave McClay and Nick Zullo after the ceremony.

Carol Crile McBride of Ten Mile posed for a photo with Tom and I.
Her brother Pvt. Joe Crile was killed in the Dominican Republic Conflict.

Larry Maggi

maggil@co.washington.pa.us

Fort Cherry’s Anatomage Table: An LSA Investment in our Youth

 

It’s not everyday that you get to watch students “dissect” cadavers in their high school library.

But that’s exactly what I did today when I met with students in Fort Cherry High School’s anatomy and physiology class.  Don’t worry, it was all done virtually on a state-of-the-art Antomage Table loaded with the digital scans of real human and animal cadavers.

Senior Kayla George, junior Parker Maga and their teacher Dr. Kaitlyn Willyerd showed administrators, school board members, a local legislator, and me just how easy it was to operate. Their first subject was Vickie, who died of stomach cancer.

Kayla and Parker touched the screen to cut through skin and fat, inspect the heart, and travel through the digestive system. It was all very impressive and realistic.

Parker Maga, Kayla George and Dr. Kaitlyn Willyerd
 demonstrate the Anatomage Table.

Learning about the Anatomage Table

I was invited to the school because the $92,000 table was purchased through Washington County’s Local Share Account, which is funded by local casino money.  They applied for the money because the district is laser focused on career readiness. It’s all about making sure Fort Cherry students have a leg up when it comes to college and careers.

Dr. Willyerd said this program, which isn’t typically found in a high school classroom, allows the students to work on real cases. This college-level application engages students and helps with retention. It's so much better than reading about it in a book.

Kayla, who plans to become a physician’s assistant, said that using the Antomage Table has taught her a lot, specifically helping her understand how the heart works. Parker, who wants to be an EMT, said it  helped him connect the dots of anatomy.

“Without the support of the LSA we couldn’t afford this,” Superintendent Tom Samosky said after the demonstration.  “When you prioritize local schools, it has impact. It takes adults like this to sacrifice, to take the time out of their day to support our educators. Thank you for supporting our kids.”

Click here to learn more about the Antomage Table.

Larry Maggi

maggil@co.washington.pa.us

Two months, 11 posts and 9,000 views!

In February I tossed around the idea of starting a newsletter to reach my constituents. It was quickly pointed out that printing a newsletter would be an expensive and an old-fashioned way to reach people. A blog was suggested because it was free, easy to create, and the posts could easily be shared on Facebook.

Since then, I’ve posted about wrestling, county issues, and events, but my most popular posts were about my memories of Washington Mall, the list of Washington County Fish Fries, and a story about the popularity of girls’ high school wrestling.

The response has been good and as of today, 9,000 people have read my blog. While this may not be what young people consider a “viral response," I’m happy with it. It's great that so many people have found this online journal to be interesting and worth reading.

So, today I want to thank all of you for taking the time to read my blog and for the many positive responses I have received. 

Sincerely,

Larry