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By Linda Franz, Sentinel Reporter, May 23, 2006

Last updated: Tuesday, May 23, 2006 10:51 AM EDT

Special Memorial Day observances in Newville Monday are expected to draw thousands to the hometown of Sgt. 1st Class Randall Shughart, a Medal of Honor recipient.

Black Hawk helicopters will fly over the town and land in the community ball field.

Michael Durant, the downed helicopter pilot who credits Shughart with saving his life in Mogadishu, Somalia, will speak at the dedication ceremony to name the U.S. Post Office building in Newville in honor of Shughart. The dedication ceremony takes place about 3 p.m., immediately following the 1 p.m. parade.

Governor expected

Organizers expect Gov. Ed Rendell to speak, although the governor’s press office said it cannot confirm his schedule before Friday. Other military and civilian dignitaries are expected to attend.

The day’s events will begin at noon at the Veterans Memorial next to the fountain with a service by the Joint Veterans Council of Newville honoring all veterans who passed away during the year.

The Memorial Day parade will begin to line up at 11:30 a.m. and move out at 1 p.m. Because of the expected size of the parade, it will line up at Newville Fairgrounds on Route 533 in North Newton Township and will march down Broad Street to Walnut Street, turn onto Big Spring Avenue, proceed to South High Street and end at Main Street.

Randall Shughart’s parents, Herbert and Lois Shughart, and his widow, Stephanie, have been named parade marshals and will ride in a horse-drawn carriage.

Several color guard units representing the Marine Corps, Special Forces and American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars posts will march, along with local Scout troops and Little League teams.

A few veterans’ motorcycle groups will ride.

After Shughart was killed defending the downed helicopter pilot, Durant was captured and held prisoner for 11 days in Mogadishu. His story was the inspiration behind the movie "Black Hawk Down."

The movie will be shown free of charge at 4 and 7 p.m. Sunday at Big Spring Area Community Center, 2 Chestnut St., Newville.

Here are other Memorial Day observances and activities:

Friday

• Mt. Tabor parade begins at 6 p.m. at the Mt. Tabor United Methodist Church in Adams County and proceeds to the Mt. Tabor Cemetery for a service. Lt. Col. Tracy Settle will be the speaker and James Getty will deliver the Gettysburg Address. Music and a lunch stand will be at the cemetery and barbecued chicken will be available at the church following the service.

Saturday

• Walnut Bottom will hold a brief memorial service at 5:45 p.m. at Jacksonville Cemetery. The parade will start from the cemetery at 6 p.m. and proceed west through town to the South Newton Township Volunteer Fire Company. A chicken barbecue will precede the service and parade.

Sunday

• Boiling Springs Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8851 will hold a memorial service at 8 a.m. at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Second and Walnut streets. The Memorial Day parade will form at 1 p.m. at Iron Forge Elementary School on Forge Road and start promptly at 1:30 p.m.

The parade will end at the Memorial Clock Tower at Children’s Lake, where ceremonies will be held. In the event of inclement weather, the ceremonies will be held in the Boiling Springs High School auditorium.

Guest speakers are retired Army Col. Linda Norman and U.S. Army Sgt. Rick Barber.

• Mt. Holly Springs American Legion Post 674 and VFW Post 7343 will hold a Memorial Day ceremony at 2 p.m. at the Mt. Holly Springs Cemetery on Watts Street. Guest speakers will be Marine Corps Col. John W. Guthrie, retired Army Col. Thomas E. Faley and Mayor Bob Otto of Mt. Holly Springs. In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony will be held at the American Legion, 601 Pine St.

Monday

• The Joint Veterans Council of Carlisle will form its Memorial Day parade at 8:30 a.m. and start promptly at 9 a.m. with services following the parade at Veterans’ Memorial Courtyard. In the event of inclement weather, the parade will be cancelled and the ceremonies will be held in the Old Courthouse. The guest speaker will be retired Army Brig. Gen. Kenneth Chrosniak.

American Legion Post 826 will hold a memorial service at 11 a.m. in Memorial Park followed immediately by a roll call and service at noon at Union Cemetery. Guest speaker is Lt. Col. David Miller, Class of 2006, U.S. Army War College.

• Mechanicsburg Area Veterans Council will hold a Memorial Day Parade starting at 10 a.m. from Filbert Street to the Mechanicsburg Cemetery. The parade will be followed at 11 a.m. by a ceremony at the cemetery.

In case of inclement weather the ceremony will be held at American Legion Post 109, 224 West Main Street. Lunch will be served at American Legion Post 109 to all attending the ceremony.

• Vietnam Veterans of the Mechanicsburg Area will hold its 9th annual Memorial Day service Monday at 2 p.m. at Lincoln Colored Cemetery, Winding Hill Road, where 12 Civil War soldiers are buried.

• The Joint Veterans Council of Shippensburg will hold Memorial Day services at 10 a.m. at Locust Grove on North Queen Street, at 11 a.m. at Spring Hill Cemetery on North Morris Street and at 1:15 p.m. at Branch Bridge on West King Street. The Memorial Day parade will begin at 2 p.m. The parade will form at 1:30 p.m. on East King Street between Prince and Washington streets. The parade will be canceled in the event of rain.