Charleroi Legion leader is upset with parade decision

By TAYLOR BROWN

tbrown@yourmvi.com

Frank Paterra, commander of the American Legion in Charleroi, isn’t happy Monessen is no longer in the rotation to host the region’s annual Veteran’s Day parade.

Monessen was informed earlier this month in a letter from county commissioners on behalf of the newly formed Washington County Veterans Council, formerly the Mon Valley Veterans Council, that the parade the city planned to host in November will now be held in Monongahela.

The letter said the parade would be exclusively hosted in Washington County starting this year. For more than a century, the parade has rotated among Charleroi, Donora, Monongahela, Monessen and Washington.

Monessen was supposed to host the parade last year, but because of road projects on the main streets, Charleroi was asked to take the lead with the intention that Monessen would host this year.

Paterra brought up his concerns about the decision at a meeting of Charleroi borough council last week.

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