Two familiar faces will lead the 2009 edition of the Ironton-Lawrence County Memorial Day Parade when the procession rolls through the streets of Ironton in May.

Arthur Pierson, who served last year as parade commander under grand marshal Bob Blankenship, will step up as grand marshal this year. His parade commander will be Ella McCown. They were chosen late last year by the Memorial Day parade committee.

“I think this is a great honor bestowed on me by the parade committee,” Pierson said. “I think of all the other grand marshals who have come before me, approximately 140 — some years there were no grand marshals, although I don’t know why — but I look back on all these grand marshals and wonder how they felt when they walked down the street at the head of the parade. The reason we do this is for the men and women who have fought for this country, for those who have died for this country and for those who are still fighting for this country so we can have the freedoms we have and the life we have.”

McCown’s ascent to parade commander has a poignant edge to it: her late husband, Frank McCown, was a years-long member of the parade committee and had served as both grand marshal and parade commander.

It was through him she became involved in the parade committee, although she had attended the parade since she was a little girl.

“Anybody who was around him and knew him knew how important community service was to him and how important the parade was to him,” she said.

It was through the parade committee she got to know Pierson as well. They both recalled the year they put up flags on the Woodland Cemetery overpass in spite of the pouring rain and in time for the parade and the yearly throng of faithful to the cemetery to pay tribute to fallen soldiers.

“Pierson said one of the reasons he chose McCown as his parade commander was the good relationship he had had with Frank McCown when they worked together on the parade committee. Frank McCown died in May 2007.

When the parade committee meets Monday, it may select a theme for this year’s parade. One suggestion for a theme is “Freedom Forever In The U.S.A.”

Both McCown and Pierson said parade committee welcomes new members. The parade committee meets at 7 p.m. at the Veterans of Foreign Wars 8850 post home at 3026 S. Third St. in Ironton. Those meetings are scheduled for Feb. 9, March 9, March 23, April 6, April 13, April 20, April 27, May 4, and May 18.