Parades have always played a big part in the life of the people of Summit Hill.  For over 100 years all kinds of parades have been held—rain or shine, winter or summer. However, the most famous parade in town is its Memorial Day Parade.

Summit Hill is home to 13 cemeteries and every year thousands of people from near and far come to pay their respects and place flowers on the graves of family and friends.  The town swells with a festive atmosphere of those renewing old friendships as well as remembering our fallen heroes.   Over the weekend there are several services honoring the dead.  A roll call of deceased veterans, recitations of Logan’s General Orders, Flanders Field and the Gettysburg Address all honor those who sacrificed their lives for the freedoms we enjoy today.

Since the 1920’s, school children were required to march and attendance was mandatory.  In the late 1940’s, after World War II, the parades became even larger.

The towns of the Panther Valley joined together their high school and Legion bands with renewed patriotism and the streets were lined with people not only celebrating the return of a new group of veterans but also remembering those who made the supreme sacrifice and gave their lives.

Today the town of Summit Hill continues to celebrate Memorial Day.  Monday morning the people of town turn their attention to honoring veterans with a memorial service in Ludlow Park.  After the service, a 4 division parade winds throughout the town paying tribute to the men and women who have so bravely served our country.