In Memoriam

A neighborhood tradition struggles to soldier on.

by Mike Newall

Jessica Kourkounis POORER PORT: The city informed the organizers of Port Richmond's Memorial Day Parade that they'd have to pay for their own police and road closures.

[ hearts and thoughts ]

The Port Richmond Memorial Day Parade was over, and it was finally time for parade organizers Dennis Raffa and Mike Wilk to relax. The two were sitting in Mike's concrete backyard on Cedar Street. The kids were firing the grill, the grandkids were off playing somewhere, and Mike's wife, Bernadette, was busy in the kitchen. Soon, the yard would be packed. Now, it was quiet. Mike put some beers on the table.

"It was a good parade," said Mike.

"For how much money we had, it really was," said Dennis.

"You gonna do it next year, Mike?" asked Dennis.

"Don't even say it," said Mike. "I'm done."

"Me, too," said Dennis.

Dennis and Mike have been threatening to hang up their parade duties for years. Both saw combat in Vietnam in the mid-'60s — Dennis as a Marine in Chu Lai; Mike as an Army infantryman. Organizing the parade, which has been a Port Richmond institution for decades, is a yearlong endeavor. The event is 100 percent neighborhood-funded. Money must be raised, bands hired and agreements worked out with the city. Dennis has been parade chairman for 16 years; his legs bother him. Mike's been parade co-chairman for six years. In June, he's retiring from his toll-collecting job and taking Bernadette on a cruise.

Yes, Dennis and Mike want to be on the sidelines next year. Thing is, no one is stepping up to take their place.

"It's time for the next generation to take over," said Dennis.

"If we were gonna do the parade next year, we'd have to start tomorrow," said Mike. "Forget it."

The planning for this year's parade was especially trying. Thanks to the budget mess, the city told organizers they'd be responsible for the price of police and road closures. Mike sent out 173 notices to local businesses requesting they buy ads in a parade booklet. The ads started at $35 and only 54 people responded. Eventually, a budget of about six grand was cobbled together, mostly with donations from neighborhood banks. But that was still well under half the parade's budget from just 10 years ago, when it was one of the biggest Memorial Day celebrations in Pennsylvania. Then, 67 bands and marching troupes stretched down Allegheny Avenue to the Delaware River. There was even a reviewing stage covered in red, white and blue bunting. This year, the parade route was shortened to four city blocks, and the budget allowed for only five bands and performance troupes.

Still, the morning started early.

"Around 05:00 hours," said Dennis.

Wreath-laying ceremonies were held at the neighborhood's two war memorials and a 21-gun salute was fired off at St. Peter's Cemetery. At precisely 10:00 hours, Dennis stood in the intersection of Thompson and Allegheny and yelled out, "Detail, Atten-hut!" An honor guard representing the 3rd Battalion 14th Marines based out of Northeast Philly raised the colors, and the Polish American String Band began the national anthem.

Chris Magenta cheered in the crowd out front of St. Adalbert's Church. She's lived her 50 years in the neighborhood. "It's sad to see the parade this small," she said. "But at least the tradition continues."

In short order, the parade wound its way to Campbell Square, for a ceremony honoring Grand Marshal Master Sergeant Walter Milewski, a member of the Pennsylvania Air National Guard and a Philadelphia firefighter stationed in Port Richmond.

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"He's a local hero," Dennis told the crowd.

Milewski and his wife Janice stood at quiet attention — he at full salute in a crisp uniform, she with her hand to her heart — as a new American flag was sent up the flagpole. Their three young children stood nearby.

"I want to have two jobs like my dad," said 6-year-old Zachary. "A NASCAR driver and a football player, probably."

The Sounds of Liberty barbershop chorus sang patriotic songs to end the morning's events.

Later on, back in Mike's yard, Dennis and Mike were still swearing this was their last year heading up the parade. If no one steps up to pick up the reins, then maybe there won't be one next year, said Mike. At this, Mike's nephew Stephen rolled his eyes.

"You guys are full of it," he said with a laugh. "You know you're going to be out there again next year."

"Bite your tongue," said Dennis.

"The odds are slim to none," said Mike.

Stephen mulled this over for a second.

"Well, you're saying there's at least a chance then," he said.

"Nope, it's time to pass the torch," said Dennis.

(mike.newall@citypaper.net)