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Gen. Mike Minihan, Commander of Air Mobility Command, visits the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station June 8, 2024.

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Commander oversees local festival

  • Published
  • By Major Andrea Pitruzzella
  • 914th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station --  Col. Allan Swartzmiller, commander of the 914th Airlift Wing at the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station performed duties as the grand marshal of the 53rd annual Niagara County Lewiston Kiwanis Peach Festival. The parade, held on September 11th, traveled down Center Street in the Village of Lewiston to the site of this year's peach festival.

In the 1950's, the Lewiston Kiwanis started this festival as a tribute to local farmers in Niagara County and their tasty produce, specifically peaches. Over the years it went from peach cobbler, to peach sodas and many other "peach inspired" goodies. It now gains much of its popularity from it focus on youth events such as an annual cheerleading competition which is entering its 18th year.

This year's parade which included over 140 units representing Niagara and Erie County as well as southern Ontario is regarded as one of the largest in the area. When asked how it felt to be a grand marshal, Col. Swartzmiller said, "It's always an honor and privilege to celebrate the traditions of the Niagara region with the members of the community that have consistently shown their outstanding support to our military family."