POMEROY — Jessica Lynch, taken prisoner in the Iraqi war in 2003, will be the Grand Marshall of the 10 a.m. parade at Saturday’s observance of the Veterans Appreciation and POW/MIA Remembrance Day in Pomeroy.

Lynch who resides in Parkersburg, W. Va. was wounded and captured by Iraqi forces in an ambush where 11 other soldiers in the company were killed and five were captured, but later rescued.

After some time in the custody of the Iraqi army regiments that captured her, she was taken to a hospital for medical treatment. While there U. S. forces were tipped off as to her whereabouts by an Iraqi and moved in and eventually “extracted” her from there, according to a news release which detailed events of the battle in Nasiriyah in which Lynch’s unit was involved.

Lineup for the parade will be near the Bob Roberts Football Field on Main Street in Pomeroy. The route of the parade will be down Main Street to Butternut Avenue then turn onto Second Street to Sycamore and move to the parking lot on the river where the celebration will continue.

Veterans, veterans groups, organizations, businesses, and individuals wishing to show their appreciation for those who defend our country are invited to participate. The parade will be followed by a prayer, the ceremonial flag raising, and a 21-gun salute to all veterans, POWs and MIAs.

Speaker at the opening ceremony will be Meigs High School graduate of 1968, Jennifer Menchini Kirby, who is a Lieutenant Colonel and commander of the 142nd Aeromedical Evacuation’s Squadron, Delaware Air National Guard.

Lt. Menchini-Kirby’s primary function when deployed is to aeromedically evacuate and care for the casualties coming out of Iraq and Afghanistan. She is also vice president of Patient Care Services and Chief Nurse Executive at Wyshoff Heights Medical Center in New York City.

Menchini-Kirby’s military highlights include 25 years of service with the Delaware Air National Guard with multiple deployments in support of military operations in Southwest Asia, Europe, Central America and Africa. She holds a master of science in nursing from Loyola University of Chicago and in 2005 was awarded the Organizational Innovation Nurse Executive Award.

Following her talk flags will be presented to those who lost loved ones in Iraq. At 11:40 a.m. e F-16 fighter aircraft of the 178th Fighter Wing of the Ohio National Guard will fly over Pomeroy.

There will be numerous exhibits on the parking lot to include radio-controlled model aircraft and a display of Army National Guard equipment. Food vendors will also be present.

Questions regarding the Remembrance Day are to be directed to Bill Spaun 740-992-3992 of Del Pullins, 740-985-3669.