A prayer was recited at the commencement of the Lycoming County Veterans Parade Committee on the Jersey Shore on November 5, 2022. Hundreds of people watched this year’s hour-long parade in downtown Jersey Shore. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Don’t miss the annual Lycoming County Veterans Day Parade in Muncy; It will begin at 2 p.m. on Nov. 9 and feature a retired Army staff sergeant as the parade grand marshal and a U.S. Marine as a parade ambassador. It is held two days before the official Veterans Day holiday.

This year the parade will take place on Musser Lane at 12:30pm. The parade will rotate to different communities each year and depart promptly at 2 p.m., according to Doug Lane, chairman of the Lycoming County Veterans Parade Commission.

“We encourage everyone to come out and show their support for our nation’s veterans.” he said.

He said this year’s parade will feature military units and bands led by the Muncy and Hughesville high school bands, as well as other groups invited from high schools in the county.

Spectators can look for floats, fire companies, police and first responders, antique cars and motorcycle clubs.

The Nittany Highland Pipe Band, comprised of musicians from central Pennsylvania, will also parade. Founded in 1973 near Pennsylvania State University, the group maintains an active parade program and performs, promotes and perpetuates the skills and traditions of Highland bagpipes and Scottish drumming.

The parade will be led by the Pennsylvania State Police and will be followed by the Edward J. Smith Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3428 Color Guard, Parade Grand Marshal Staff Sgt. Charles E. Shreck and Parade Ambassador Sgt. Barron L. Zimmers, USMC.

The reviewing stand will be at Brelsford Motors, the reviewing officer will be Staff Sergeant. Vietnam War veteran Martin Payne will be accompanied by two jurors: Ann Marie Baker and Alivia Tagliaferri.

The Jersey Shore Veterans Council Honor Guard will also attend the ceremony. Following the prayers and chants of Father Bert Kozen, the National Anthem will be sung, the Honor Guard will salute with 21 guns and taps will be played in memory of our late veterans.

“Muncy is proud to host the Lycoming County Veterans Day Parade.” said county council member Bill Scott.

“The City is proud to honor and recognize our nation’s veterans and service members.” he added.

“We are excited for Muncy County to host this year’s Veterans Day Parade… and we look forward to you joining us in celebrating our veterans.”

The parade route is from Musser Lane to Main Street and Mechanical Avenue. Scott noted that it’s not too late to join the parade.

Shreck grew up in the Watsontown area and graduated from Warrior Run High School.

He enlisted in the Navy on January 9, 1961, and went to basic training in Great Lakes, Illinois, then went to Memphis, Tennessee, for the Class A Aviation Structural Mechanics School.

From there he went to Air Submarine Defense Squadron 31 at Quonset Point, Rhode Island. The squadron was deployed aboard USS Wasp CVS-18.

“We were on station in the Atlantic for John Glenn’s 1962 space shoot, and we left and went on President John F. Kennedy’s Goodwill tour of the North Atlantic.” said Shreck.

In 1963, Shreck was with the squadron aboard USS-Wasp in the Cuban Blockade.

From there, he returned to Memphis for the Class B Aviation Structural Mechanics School and went to Naval Aviation Air Station Beeville, Texas, where he was assigned to Training Squadron 26 to repair F-11s and F-9J aircraft in the airframes maintenance department.

Apollo 12 recovery

In 1969, Shreck was transferred to USS Hornet CVS-12, which was transported to Long Beach for the Apollo 12 recovery team. He was discharged from the Navy on January 9, 1970 as an Aviation Structural Mechanic 1st Class.

In 1977, Shreck enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserves as a Spec-5 and trained as a supply specialist.

He later rose to the rank of staff sergeant.

In September 1980, Shreck, Co. Transferred to B 3rd Bn. 35th Infantry, Worcester, as supply sergeant and on December 30, 1980, in St. He was transferred to the USAR Control Group in St. Louis and was discharged on October 30, 1984.

In November 1990, Shreck enlisted in the Army National Guard (F-728th Maint). Bn. As a staff sergeant in Lock Haven. He later received training in M-1 Tank maintenance at Indiantown Gap. Description of unit Co. Renamed D 728th Main Support Bn. and retired in January 1999.

Shreck is a life member of the Muncy VFW, where he served as commander three times and has served as quartermaster for the past 28 years.

He is also a member of the American Legion Post 268 and is a past president of the Lycoming County Veterans Council.

Zimmers was born June 14, 1947, in Somerset County and grew up in Berlin.

Zimmers, who graduated from Berlin Brothers-Valley High School in 1965, initially planned to enter the Air Force but had to wait six months due to the spinal meningitis quarantine at Lackland Air Force Base.

He enlisted in the Marine Corps in Johnstown in March 1966 and went to Parris Island, South Carolina, a month later. Following completion of boot camp, Zimmers was sent to Camp Lejeune, Camp Geiger, and Camp Stone Bay in North Carolina for Infantry Training.

After a short leave of absence, he took orders for the C&E School in San Diego. He received his first MOS, Radio Telegraph Operator, at 2533 and was ordered to the 1st ANGLICO, 1st Marine Division, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, as a forward observer.

An injury sent Zimmers back to the US and after recovery he received his 2nd MOS as a Fire Control Radar Technician on an F4-B Phantom II aircraft.

He was then assigned to an air station assigned to Headquarters Maintenance Squadron 32 in Beaufort, South Carolina.

His next orders took him to Okinawa, then to Iwakuni, Japan; here he was assigned to VMFA-122, a Phantom squadron, and then to H&MS-15.

His next stop was Chu Lai, Vietnam, and after completing his tour, his military service was coming to an end and he returned home aboard USS Ogden, LP-5, anchored off Del Mar, California.

He was discharged in 1970 and returned home.

Zimmers was the former Commandant and current Adjutant of the Marine Corps Det. #388, Williamsport.

He is currently second deputy commander of VFW Post 3428 in Muncy, is a member of American Legion Post 268, Muncy, and is a Lycoming County Veterans Council Delegate living in Muncy.

Following the parade, all parade participants are invited back to VFW Post 3428 for a small luncheon.