The Veterans Day Parade is a tradition held in Waynesburg each year on High Street in order to honor Greene County residents who have served our country.

Waynesburg University’s Department of Communication plays a role in this event by putting on a live broadcast for those who may not be in attendance. However, this year looks different, as it would be the first time the department puts on two productions at the same time with the football team’s senior day being broadcasted at John F. Wiley Stadium as well.

“The reason we’re doing this is we feel that this is a significant community event and one that’s very important to the community,” said Richard Krause, chairperson for the Department of Communication. “This is a commemoration of those who serve and have served, and we feel like that recognition needs shown.”

The Department of Communication broadcasts a plethora of productions throughout the year, including the majority of home sporting events and other parades, such as the annual Christmas parade.

“We have a commitment to them,” Krause said. “We could have easily said, ‘we have a football production and can’t cover both,’ but this one was so important that we weren’t going to pass on it.”

John “Buzz” Walters, a Mapletown High School and Waynesburg University alumni, was an  active veteran in the community and took part in the parade every year. Walters passed away on Dec. 16, 2022. Being involved in the parade was something he looked forward to every year, so recognizing heroes such as Walters is crucial to Krause and to why the department does what it does.

“It’s something that I don’t want to see us lose,” Krause said. “If we can bring it to people who can’t physically attend, that’s a big job.”

“We’re doing a new mobile setup that I’m excited to use,” Spozarski said when elaborating on how this production would be ran. “For us to be able to use our new equipment and provide this to the veterans, it’s really exciting, and I’m happy to provide for something that’s so important to Greene County. It’s not just Waynesburg that’s utilizing us for sports, it’s also the community. To be able to go out into the community and have them recognize and see that means a lot to me.”