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Services and parades part of events on Memorial Day events include three services, two parades

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From staff reports

To honor and remember those who have died in our nation's service, there will be three separate Memorial Day services including two parades on Monday by Defiance veterans groups, while dozens of area communities also hold services.

Herbert E. Anderson American Legion Post 117 holds its traditional parade from downtown Defiance to Riverside Cemetery beginning at 9 a.m. A continental breakfast will start at 8 a.m. at the legion hall, 648 Clinton St.

The Defiance High School Marching Band of Class, under the direction of Cathy Booth, will make its annual appearance in the parade. In addition, the world-renowned Glassmen Drum and Bugle Corps will showcase its well-disciplined marching precision.

The service at Riverside Cemetery at 9:30 a.m. is opened by county veterans service officer Mike Williams, the invocation by Rev. Mark Shimer of St. Paul's United Methodist Church, posting of the colors by the color guard, the national anthem performed by the Glassmen, and a welcome by Mayor Bob Armstrong.

The guest speaker for the ceremony is Jack Palmer, The Crescent-News columnist and reporter. Ethan Stykemain, son of Joe and Terri Stykemain, will recite the "Gettysburg Address" while Izzy Olvera, daughter of Jon and Libby Olvera, will sing "Freedom Isn't Free."

The DHS band will play "Grand Old Flag" and a special military musket salute will be given by the Bronco Civil War re-enactment group. The service closes with the benediction by Shimer and the retiring of the colors.

The Herman Hesselschwardt Detachment of the Marine Corps League 758 will hold ceremonies at Brunersburg Cemetery. A short parade from Ohio 15/18 to the cemetery begins at 9 a.m., followed immediately by the service.

Guest speaker is Dr. Nathan Fogt, a U.S. Army Reserves colonel who served separate tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. Tinora High School's marching band, directed by Joe Lewis, will provide the music.

Refreshments will be served at Noble Township Volunteer Fire Department in Brunersburg following the service. In the event of bad weather, services will be at the fire department.

At 12 p.m., Marine Corps League members will assemble at St. Michael's Catholic Cemetery and pay honor to their namesake, Herman Hesselschwardt, who was killed in Vietnam.

Defiance VFW Post 3360 will present a service at Riverview Memory Gardens, 29231 Ohio 424, beginning at 10 a.m. Commander Floyd Nicely will serve as master of ceremonies and the Defiance High School Marching Band will provide the music.

Guest speaker is Kenneth Morris, Korean War veteran and retired principal of Toledo DeVilbiss and Toledo Woodward high schools. Morris is past commander of VFW Post 3360 and resides in Defiance. Rev. Donald Luhring of St. John Lutheran Church will give the invocation and benediction.

The Welcome Home Fort Defiance Chapter 954 Vietnam Veterans of America will not be hosting a Memorial Day service at the Defiance County Courthouse this year.

Instead, the group will be sending a contingent to Washington to participate in Memorial Day activities and place a wreath at the World War II Memorial, Korean War Memorial and Vietnam Memorial Wall in memory of all those in northwest Ohio who served in those wars.

Memorial Day services will be held throughout the six-county area. Among those are:

Defiance County

Ayersville

Parade: 9 a.m. from the high school to the fire station. Among participants are AMVETS Post 1991, its Sons of the AMVETS and AMVETS Auxiliary, Ayersville High School Band, Boy Scouts and Highland Township firefighters.

Service: at the fire station at the conclusion of the parade. Guest speaker will be U.S. Navy veteran Brad Morrison.

Hicksville

Parade: 10 a.m. from the American Legion post to Forest Home Cemetery, Main Street. Among participants are the legion, VFW and auxiliary units, FOE Auxiliary, Hicksville High School band and scouts.

Service: at the cemetery following the parade. Hicksville superintendent Dr. Kevin Miller will be speaker. In case of inclement weather, services will be in the elementary school.

Jewell

Service: 10:30 a.m. at St. Michael's Cemetery, 05480 Moser Road, conducted by Jewell American Legion Post 635. Rev. Dave Tscherne will be the guest speaker. The Tinora High School band will play a few selections.

Dinner: a light lunch will follow at Jewell Community Center, sponsored by the Jewell American Legion Auxiliary. The public is invited.

Farmer

Service: 9 a.m. at Farmer Cemetery, conducted by Farmer American Legion Post 137 and its auxiliary. Guest speaker will be post member Jim Stinehelfer. Music will be provided by the Fairview High School Apache Band.

Dinner: refreshments will follow at the Farmer American Legion Hall.

Sherwood

Breakfast: served for regular VFW members at the hall.

Service: 9 a.m. at Moats Cemetery, conducted by Sherwood VFW and Ney American Legion with guest speaker Tanya Brunner of the Defiance County Veterans Office; 10 a.m. at Delaware Bend cemetery with guest speaker deacon Don Meyer; 11 a.m. at Ney Cemetery; and 12:15 p.m. at Sherwood Cemetery with former Defiance mayor Tom Wiseman as guest speaker.

Dinner: potluck luncheon at the VFW hall following ceremonies. Participants are asked to bring a covered dish.

Ney

Service: 11 a.m. at Ney Cemetery, conducted by Ney American Legion, its auxiliary and Sherwood VFW. The guest speaker will be Tanya Brunner of the Defiance County Veterans Service Office. The Fairview High School Band will also participate.

Dinner: a potluck lunch by the Ney American Legion Auxiliary will be held after services. Those attending are asked to bring a covered dish and their own table service. The public is invited.

Henry County

Deshler

Parade: 9 a.m. from the park to the American Legion, with line up starting at 8:30 a.m.

Service: at Veterans Memorial at the American Legion post on Stearns Avenue following the parade.

Hamler

Service: 8:30 a.m., members of American Legion Post 262 will visit local cemeteries. At 10:45 a.m., a program will be held at the legion hall with guest speaker Pastor Lindsay Shaner of Hope Lutheran Church. The Patrick Henry High School Band will perform.

Dinner: chicken barbecue at the legion hall, 11:30 a.m.

Holgate

Service: Holgate American Legion Post 340 will present its annual program in the Holgate Local Schools cafeteria at 7 p.m. Main speaker will be Tamara Wood of St. Peter's Lutheran Church.

Liberty Center

Services: 9:30 a.m. at Heath Cemetery, conducted by the Liberty Center VFW. Parade forms in town and proceeds to Young Cemetery, where a program will begin at 10:30 a.m., conducted by the Liberty Center American Legion. Guest speaker will be Rev. Chuck Whitmire of Shiloh Church.

Dinner: chicken barbecue at the VFW hall at 11 a.m.

Malinta

Service: 11:15 a.m. at the memorial on Turkeyfoot Avenue, sponsored by Malinta American Legion Post 400. From 9-10:30 a.m., American Legion representatives will visit various area cemeteries.

McClure

Parade: 10 a.m. from the legion post through town.

Service: following parade at two area cemeteries, which will feature singing by the community choir.

Refreshments: served following the program at the legion hall.

Napoleon

Parade: 10 a.m. from the Henry County Fairgrounds to the Perry Street/Ohio 108 bridge where a short service and a wreath drop into the Maumee River will be held. Parade participants then move on to the Henry County Veterans Memorial on Washington Street.

Service: at the veterans memorial following the parade, sponsored by Bert G. Taylor American Legion Post 300, Luther R. Kolbe VFW Post 8218 and Arthur Dan Peterson AMVETS Post 1313. Speaker will be John DeBarr, Ohio American Legion first district vice commander.

Dinner: free luncheon served at AMVETS hall on North Scott Street following the service.

Ridgeville Township

Service: 10:30 a.m. at the Ridgeville American Legion Hall. Guest speaker will be Chad Nagel, Tinora High School graduate who served in the Navy from 2001-06.

Dinner: community potluck dinner following the service.

Fulton County

Archbold

Service: 9:30 a.m. at the Knights of Columbus hall, conducted by the American Legion. Guest speaker will be Daniel Grime, Archbold High School graduate and a former U.S. Army sergeant who served two tours of duty in Iraq.

Breakfast: Boy Scouts will serve breakfast after service.

Pettisville

Parade: 9:45 a.m. from the park to Pettisville Cemetery.

Service: at cemetery following the parade. Guest speaker will be Steve Switzer, superintendent of Pettisville Local Schools.

Dinner: community potluck at the park at 11:30 a.m.

Wauseon

Parade: 9:30 a.m. from Wauseon City Hall to Union Cemetery.

Service: at approximately 10 a.m. with guest speaker Larry Fruth, former teacher, guidance counselor and head football coach at Wauseon High School and a U.S. Army veteran. The WHS Marching Band and the WHS Choral will perform. In the event of rain, the ceremony will be held in the high school auditorium at 10 a.m.

Dinner: chicken barbecue at the American Legion Hall following the service.

Paulding County

Antwerp

Parade: 10 a.m. from the VFW post to the park. Participating are the VFW and American Legion, their auxiliaries and scouts.

Service: following parade. Guest speaker will be a representative from the Defiance VFW.

Refreshments: served at the VFW for parade participants after the ceremony.

Cecil

Service: 9 a.m. at Rochester Park, conducted by Paulding VFW post.

Grover Hill

Service: 11 a.m. at the veterans monument at Middle Creek Cemetery, sponsored by Grover Hill VFW Post 2873 and its auxiliary. Also participating will be the Wayne Trace High School Band and Boy Scout Troop 64.

Breakfast: 7-10 a.m., pancake and sausage breakfast at the Grover Hill VFW Post. Carryouts available. Free-will offering.

Oakwood

Parade: following 10 a.m. program by third-graders at Oakwood Elementary School, from school to the park along the Auglaize River.

Service: 11 a.m. at the park, conducted by Oakwood American Legion post.

Refreshments: at American Legion building following the service.

Paulding

Service: 11 a.m. at Live Oaks Cemetery, conducted by the Paulding VFW post. There will be a short presentation at the courthouse square following the service.

Dinner: potluck after service at VFW post.

Payne

Breakfast: 7 a.m. at American Legion Post 297.

Parade: 9:30 a.m. from St. John the Baptist Catholic Church to the legion post.

Service: following parade at Lehman Cemetery.

Luncheon: New Horizon band plays after services at township building. Individuals are encouraged to bring lawn chairs. Legion hosts 1 p.m. potluck luncheon for Payne-area veterans, auxiliary, Sons of the Legion and their families. The legion will furnish barbecue chicken. Each family is asked to bring a side and serving utensils.

Putnam County

Cloverdale

Service: 10 a.m., conducted by Continental American Legion at the Cloverdale Park. Richard Zulch, Jerry City, national executive committeeman for Department of Ohio American Legion, will deliver the address. Music will be provided by the Continental High School Band.

Continental

Service: 11:15 a.m. at American Legion post. Richard Zulch, Jerry City, national executive committeeman for Department of Ohio American Legion, will deliver the address. Music will be provided by the Continental High School Band.

Kalida

Service: 8 a.m. church service at St. Michael's Catholic Church, followed by a parade at about 9 a.m. from the church to the Kalida Fire Station, followed by the memorial service.

Ottawa

Parade: 10:30 a.m. at Main and Perry streets, featuring Ottawa-Glandorf and Kalida High School marching bands.

Service: following the parade in front of the courthouse. In case of rain, the ceremony will be held in the Robert J. Hermiller gym at Ottawa-Glandorf High School. (A limousine will be available to take veterans needing aid to the Kalida memorial service and Ottawa parade. They should meet at the Ottawa American Legion parking lot at 7:30 a.m. Monday.)