By JOHN ANDERSON, photos and video by SAMUEL ROBINSON
An America 250 parade took place Saturday in the village of Belmont.
A parade of American Legion veterans, escorted by Legion Riders on motorcycles took the parade and the spectators from the main drag on Schuyler Street to the park circle for a ceremony.
Story continues after a video of the parade:
They were followed by the Grand Marshal, Jack and Joan Rahr.
Village of Belmont Mayor Ray DeTine received a warm welcome from the crowd. DeTine has served Belmont for close to 40 years as a trustee and mayor. DeTine gave a speech about the importance of Independence Day and what it means to America, Allegany County and Belmont.
The Wellsville American Legion Riders from Morrison Hays Post 702 kicked off the parade followed by the Rahr’s.
Members of the Herbert W. Delong American Legion Post 808 of Belmont then marched with the Sons of the American Legion and Legion Auxiliary Unit 808.
The Grand Marshal was John “Jack” Rahr, a Marine veteran who earned military honors when he disarmed a member of a rebellion group in Beirut, Lebanon in 1958. Rahr grabbed a grenade before the person could throw it into a crowd in the capital city. The grenade was started, but Rahr prevented the “spoon” from being activated, which would have caused an explosion within seconds.
The parade finished in the Memorial Park Circle in Belmont, where Shannon Harding led another stirring ceremony.
See videos and photos of that event on the Wellsville Sun.
Swipe to see Samuel Robinson’s photo gallery of the parade:
