Tim Kosky, a decorated former Marine Corps master sergeant, will serve as keynote speaker Monday during Memorial Day ceremonies in Connellsville.
The Connellsville Veterans Commission will sponsor a parade scheduled to line up 9:30 a.m., followed by a ceremony at the War Memorial at the intersection of North Pittsburgh Street and U.S. Route 119.
Beginning on First Street on the West Side, the parade route will follow West Crawford Avenue to Pittsburgh Street and continue north to the War Memorial.
Parade participants will pause on the McCray Robb Memorial Bridge for an honor guard salute and sounding of “Taps” by a member of the Connellsville Area High School marching band.
Edward I. Henry, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 21 commander, will serve as officer of the day. Post 21 Adjutant Thomas W. McFadden will serve as commander of the day.
Main ceremony
Genn Siple will serve as master of ceremonies at the War Memorial, where the high school band will present the national anthem.
Pastor Lenny Stefl of World Christian Outreach Ministries will offer an invocation. Henry and McFadden will comment.
Members of the Connellsville Area High School Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps Battalion will place a wreath at the monument: Lt. Col. Kaleb Detwiler; commander; Executive Officer Gavin McPoyle; and Command Sgt. Maj. Colby Kisner.
Kisner, Post 21 Voice of Democracy winner, will recite the “Gettysburg Address,” followed by a musical selection by the high school band.
Keynote speaker
Kosky is from Moundsville, W.Va., and enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1996.
Following recrut training, he attended his primary specialty school for supply administration and was assigned to Combat Service Support Group 3 in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii.
Kosky achieved the rank of lance corporal and served as a supply company guide and color guard bearer, participating joint training exercises in South Korea with the Republic of Korea Marine Corps.
In 1999, Kosky was assigned to the 4th Force Reconnaissance Company as a supply clerk, where he was promoted to sergeant.
He subsequently attended Army Airborne School at Fort Benning, Ga., participating in multiple air shows in Reno, Nev., as a Marine Corps parachute team member.
In 2001, Kosky was assigned to the G-4 division in Quantico Va., as the supply chief of the Bachelor Housing Branch.
Promoted to staff sergeant, Kosky was assigned to inspector instructor duty with Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion 24th Marines.
He attended the Small Arms Weapons Instructor Course and Foreign Weapons Advisor Training Course in Quantico, training Marines for deployment to the Al Anbar Province, Iraq.
Kosky deployed numerous times to Central America to train with allied Carribean Forces.
He was one of two Marines who coordinated all training with the Belezian Defense Force and established jungle warfare training.
Kosky was assigned to recruiting duty in Pittsburgh, achieving the rank of gunnery sergeant.
In 2010, he was assigned to Regimental Combat Team 6 at Camp Lejeune, N.C., where provided training for Marines being deployed to Camp Delaram Afghanistan.
He coordinated a new pre-deployment training for the regiment at Camp Atterbury, Ind.
During the deployment, Kosky was served as a liason at Camp Leatherneck in the Helmand Province, Afghanistan.
He prepared for the withdrawal of seven battalions back to their home bases.
Back at Camp Lejuene, Kosky was promoted to master sergeant.
His final tour of duty was at the Defense Logistics Agency in New Cumberland, Pa., as site manager and liason to the Marine Corps for logistics operations Defense Logistics Agency Distribution.
Kosky retired after 20-plus years of service and continues to work for Department of Defense in Defense Logistics Agency distribution as a project manager.
He is married to the former Rebecca Cramer of Uniontown and resides in Perryopolis with their children.
In memory
Siple will read the roll of veterans who have died since last Memorial Day.
It will be followed by a salute by the honor guard and a rendition of “TAPS” by a high school band member.
The Molinaro Band will provide a musical selection followed by a benediction by Pastor Stefl.
