The Centralia Veterans Committee has selected Tom Ballagh as Grand Marshal of the 4th of July Veterans Parade.
The announcement was made Thursday afternoon by Parade Chair Butch Mathus.
“Doing Duty Guards, the special funeral details, we wanted to show our appreciating to him. Some of our Veterans don’t seek the limelight for what they do in our community. And we recognized those individuals and we got to show our appreciation for what they do for the community and saying thanks.”
Ballagh was surprised by the announcement.
“All of my duties for the service and Veterans Service has been from behind the scenes and the only time I’m really out front is during the Memorial Service that honors our fallen Veterans, and I do that with great pride.”
Ballagh served in the US Air Force from 1969 to 1972 and was an aircraft maintenance officer. He came back to Centralia and worked at Centralia Cartridge for eight years and was one of the original staff of the Centralia Correctional Center where he served as chief supply supervisor before retiring after 21 years of service. Ballagh is a member of the Centralia American Legion, Marion County 40 & 8 Voiture 516, and Centralia Rotary Club.
The 4th of July Veterans Day Parade will be held at one pm on Tuesday, July 4th along its traditional route of West Broadway from Chestnut to Fairview Park. Parade entries are now being accepted.
Tom Ballagh (left) and Butch Mathus display the Grand Marshal plaque.
