Welcome Home Parade Set for Saturday

The first Welcome Home Parade and flag passing ceremony to honor returning veterans from the Philadelphia region, who have served the country from Sept. 11, 2001 to present day, will take place on Saturday, April 28 in Media.

The day will include veteran outreach events, a parade and flag passing ceremony.

The parade will start at 3 p.m. and march down State Street and onto Front Street.

The event, sponsored by the Veterans’ National Education Program and Veterans Legacy Project, will honor the veterans as well as support them in their next career and life phases after returning home from war.

Veteran outreach will run from noon to 5 p.m. on the lawn in front of the County Courthouse, which will include a job fair and other federal, state and county representation to help address employment issues for returning vets. The Outreach Committee will connect veterans, their dependents, and/or their survivors with benefits, services and other programs.

Representatives will be present from:

• Veterans’ Administration Command Center

• Delaware County Veterans Liaison

• The Philadelphia Veterans Multi-Service & Education Center, Inc.

• Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IA VA)

• Veterans Liaisons from the offices of: Senator Bob Casey, Senator Pat Toomey, Congressman Bob Brady, Congressman Patrick Meehan, and Senator Dominic Pileggi

• Organizations hiring veterans, (i.e. Secret Service recruiters, UPS, Cigna, Ford Motors, Riddle Memorial, and more)

Media Mayor Bob McMahon said the new website has been created to be the "one stop shop" for local veterans to find information.

He said the organization and website will be an ongoing veteran resource after the parade events.

"We're trying to take all the services that are available to veterans and put them together and make it easy to navigate and to find the information they need," McMahon said.

He said many veterans or military family members don't know where to find information on programs or benefits or career assistance after they've returned home from war.

"We'll help guide them and be the resource to send them in the right direction," McMahon said.

The website focuses on the Welcome Home Parade currently but it will soon be a valuable, ongoing resource for veterans and military families

Thousands of people are expected to turnout for the April 28 events, especially if the nice weather continues.

Currently, the , U.S. Naval Academy Band, Chichester Alumni Band, color guard, floats, returning troops and older war veterans will be included in the parade. However, details about any possible "big name" attendees are still being ironed out.

To register for the flag passing ceremony, email veterans@V-NEP.org and for more information, please visit www.V-NEP.org.