ASHLAND – Memorial Day will be celebrated in several Ashland County communities on Monday, with the largest celebration planned in Ashland.
According to Ashland Memorial Day committee secretary Mary Ann Dull, this year’s Memorial Day program is dedicated to all disabled American veterans. Several disabled veterans will serve as parade marshals for the annual parade which will begin at 10 a.m.
The parade will form starting at 9 a.m. on East Fourth Street between Union and Cottage streets. Organizers request that veterans meet in the parking lot of AMVETS Post 96 to ride together in a wagon.
The parade will travel south on Union Street to Main Street and then west on Main Street through downtown Ashland before ending at Ashland Cemetery where there will be a service at the gazebo near the entrance.
Cloyd McNaull, a Korean War Air Force veteran, will be the guest speaker. McNaull is a member of Harry Higgins Post 88 of the American Legion. He retired from F.E. Myers after 41 years of service.
Ashland County Sheriff E. Wayne Risner will serve as master of ceremonies. The national anthem and “God Bless America” will be performed by former Ashland resident Stan Stine.
D-Battery, Ashland, will fire cannons at Ashland Cemetery. The Ashland Area Honor Guard will fire a 21-gun salute at the cemetery.
The gates of the cemetery will be closed during the service as a safety precaution to prevent vehicles from entering.
Representatives of AMVETS Post 96, Harry Higgins Post 88 of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1067 and Disabled American Veterans Chapter 81 will place bouquets.
All veterans and families are invited to a luncheon following the services at VFW Post 1067.
Candy will not be distributed during the parade out of respect to the veterans. No political advertisements will be permitted in the parade.
The annual parade and program is coordinated by commanders and presidents of Harry Higgins Post 88 of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1067, AMVETS Post 96, Disabled American Veterans Chapter 81 and Veterans of Vietnam War Inc. Post 9 as well as other interested participants.
Dull said committee meetings begin in January every year to plan the annual event.
Other Ashland County Memorial Day events include:
- Perrysville. A parade will start at 11 a.m. and proceed from the former junior high school building on Ohio 39 to the cemetery on Bridge Street.
- Loudonville. The annual parade will begin at 9 a.m. and follow Main Street to Wood Street before ending at the cemetery.
- Hayesville. Beginning at 9 a.m., Fred Lavinder wil speak at Kendig Park. A parade will march from the park to the village cemetery.
- Savannah. A ceremony will start at 10 a.m. at the Town Hall. The annual parade begin at 11 a.m.
