The following is a list of Memorial Day services in the area:
LORAIN COUNTY
AMHERST
* The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Committee will host its annual Memorial Vigil on Saturday beginning with an opening ceremony at 6 p.m. at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial of Lorain County, located on North Lake Street and a closing ceremony at midnight. Mayor David Taylor will speak. The Rev. Michael Plog, of Faith Baptist Church, will give the invocation. Joseph Koziura, Vietnam veteran, will be the keynote speaker. The Army JROTC of Southview High School, led by First Sgt. Sam A. Obechi, and the Navy JROTC of Admiral King, led by Commander Daniel Tuttle, will be the color guard. Dennis Munoz will be the vocalist and Ron Tennant will play “Amazing Grace” and “Taps.” All veterans and anyone interested in attending are welcome. For further information, call Don Attie at (440) 320-3781.
* The annual Memorial Day Parade and Program will kick off Monday at 10 a.m. The parade is hosted by the American Legion Post 118 and the Amherst Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1662. Line-up will begin at the intersection of Cleveland Avenue and Washington Street. The parade will proceed south on Forest Street and west on Park Avenue. Once veterans and the marching band enter the Five Points area, the parade will halt for a short service in front of City Hall. After the program, the parade will continue east on Cleveland Avenue and will disburse at the Amherst Steele High School parking lot. Individuals and groups interested in participating in the parade, should call Gerri Rice at (440) 714-1213.
AVON
* The Memorial Day Parade, sponsored by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7035, starts at 9 a.m. at the Senior Center, 36784 Detroit Road, and ends at the cemetery at SR 83 and Detroit Road, where a ceremony will follow. Afterward, the VFW color guard will perform at Resthaven Memory Gardens, 3700 Center Road, and St. Mary’s Cemetery, 2640 Stoney Ridge Road. VFW Post 7035 will host an open house from 12:30 to 2 p.m. at 36950 Mills Road.
AVON LAKE
* A ceremony will be Monday at 8:45 a.m. at the old fire station. The flag will be lowered to half-staff at the Civic Center, then proceed to Avon Lake Cemetery for lowering of cemetery flag to half-staff, placing of wreath by flagpole, a brief speech by the commander after which a list of deceased veterans will be read and the chaplain will offer a prayer. The color guard will march to the lake and fire shots as a wreath is thrown into water, followed by “Taps.”
* The Memorial Day Parade Monday is being sponsored by the American Legion Post 211 and the city of Avon Lake. The parade will commence in the north drive of Avon Lake High School. Parade members should assemble at the high school at 9:30 a.m. The parade will move out promptly at 10 a.m. as follows: North on Avon-Belden Road, left onto Electric Boulevard, left onto Glenview Drive and left onto Avon-Belden Road, going North to Veterans Park on Lake Road. Those participating in the parade should be dropped off in front of the high school. Parking will be in the south parking lot. Parade vehicles should enter the north parking lot from Electric Boulevard by the bus garage. At 11 a.m., A C-130 military cargo plane will fly over Veterans Memorial Park.
BRIGHTON TOWNSHIP
* The Memorial Day Ceremony will be Monday. All marching units are to meet at Brighton Center. The parade to the township cemetery will begin at 9 a.m.
BROWNHELM TOWNSHIP
* The Brownhelm Historical Association will help celebrate Memorial Day with its annual parade and service at Brownhelm Cemetery. This event will be Sunday with the service starting at 2 p.m. at the cemetery. Those groups or individuals who want to be in the parade should line up at South Claus and North Ridge Road at 1:30 p.m. At 1:45 p.m., the parade will march to the cemetery. Anyone with an old car, tractor, decorated bicycles or horseback riders are welcome to attend. At 3:45 p.m., the BHA will meet at the old Brown’s Lake Road Cemetery (next to Mackenzie Woods motel/apartment complex) 1863 Liberty Ave., Vermilion, for a short service to honor a Revolutionary War soldier, Bildad Belden. The Vermilion Veterans Council will conduct the service to pay homage to this veteran who was buried there on Aug. 4, 1824. Come to learn more about that early war and others buried here. Call Ed Brill at 988-4550 for additional information.
ELYRIA
* On Sunday, American Legion Post 12 will host the Sunday evening Memorial ceremony at 6 p.m. at Ely Square. The parade takes place on Memorial Day Monday. Participants meet on Second Street next to the First Congregational Church. The public is welcome.
* Elyria Council of Veterans will conduct a ceremony at Ely Square by the fountain beginning Monday at 8 a.m. After the conclusion of the Memorial Day Parade, members of the Elyria Council of Veterans will gather at their pavilion and grill hamburgers and hot dogs. All members invited.
* Main Street Elyria’s Sixth annual Memorial Day Pancake Breakfast, sponsored by Lorain National Bank, will be from 7:30 to 10 a.m. at St. Andrew’s Church, 300 Third St. This tradition continues with the help of volunteers and local businesses. Volunteers from the Organization Committee of Main Street Elyria plan, prepare and serve the $5 breakfast that consists of pancakes, sausage, coffee and juice. As a salute, veterans in uniform receive special pricing of $4 and $3 for children ages 4 to 12. Children ages 3 and younger eat for free. For further information, contact Main Street Elyria at 322-5000, or visit www.mainstreetelyria.com. The Memorial Day Ceremony will begin at 8 a.m. in Ely Square followed by the parade, which will begin at 10 a.m. from Court Street and travel down Broad Street to Washington Avenue. It turns onto Harrison Street and ends at Ridgelawn Cemetery.
GRAFTON
* On Memorial Day, the Grafton parade participants will line up at 11:30 a.m. at the Caboose on Railroad Street. The parade will begin at 12:30 p.m. The children’s matinee will run from 1 to 5 p.m. A LifeShare blood drive will be from 2 to 6 p.m. and bingo and other casino games will be played from 3 to 8 p.m.
LORAIN
* The Disabled American Veterans Lewis Paul Proy Chapter 20 will have Memorial Day services at Ridge Hill Memorial Park Monday at 7:30 a.m. Veterans need assistance placing flags on graves at Calvary Cemetery Friday at 10 a.m.
*Lorain Memorial Association hosts its annual Memorial Day Services Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Lorain Palace Theatre, 617 Broadway, honoring veterans and auxiliary members who died in the past year and those lost in America’s wars. This year’s theme is “Support Our Troops.” This public event is free.
* On Monday at 7:30 a.m., members of DAV Chapter 20 will visit Ridge Hill Memorial Park for early morning services.
* On Monday at 8:30 a.m., members of American Legion Post 30 will conduct services at Elmwood Cemetery.
* On Monday at 9 a.m., members of AMVETS 47 will host services at Calvary Cemetery.
* The 65th dedication ceremony at Salem Cemetery on North Ridge Road will be Monday at 11 a.m.
* On the beach at Lakeview Park on Monday at 6:15 a.m., a Sunrise Service will take place hosted by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 451. A flyover and dropping of a wreath will take place at this time, weather permitting.
* The following is the lineup for the annual Memorial Day Parade at 11 a.m., starting at 20th Street and Broadway. Parade units are to be lined up no later than 10 a.m.:
Division 1 (forms on Broadway between West 17th and West 19th streets): Lorain police escort, Lorain police auxiliary escort, LifeCare EMS, Admiral King Navy JROTC color guard, Lorain 2010 Veteran of the Year, Sam Felton, past veterans of the year, Admiral King Navy JROTC marching formation, Mullen-Murray Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 451, Daughters of the American Revolution, Nathan Perry Chapter, Jewish War Veterans Chapter 222, Disabled American Veterans Louis Paul Proy Chapter 20, Italian-American Veterans Post 1 and American Legion Post 30.
Division 1-A (forms on East 18th Street facing Broadway): Admiral King High School Marching Band, Mayor Tony Krasienko, city of Lorain officials and council members, Lorain Police Department, Lorain Fire Department, Congresswoman Betty Sutton, Lorain County Commissioners, Lorain County elected officials, Lorain County engineer and elected state officials, Sheffield Township Fire Department, Lorain County Sheriff’s Auxiliary, Dan Ramos, candidate for state representative, Jack Killroy, candidate for Domestic Relations Court judge.
Division 2 (forms on Broadway between 19th and 20th streets): Southview High School Army JROTC color guard and marching formation, Canadian Legion drill team, Magic Touch Twirlers drill team, Community Health Partners Foundation, Mexican Mutual Cinco De Mayo Festival Court; Pretty Girls Swagg, 2009 Lorain International Festival Queen and Court, Harrison High Steppers, Lorain International Festival Spotlight Nationality Committee: Hungarians, American Demolition.
Division 3 (forms on East 19th Street facing Broadway): Southview High School Band, Lorain County Public Employees Retirees (PERI), Lorain County Seniors, Lorain Sailing and Yacht Club, U.S. Census Group, Lorain, Broadway Assembly Church, Church of the New Harvest, Girl Scouts and Brownies, Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts, Samuel Felton Athletic Club.
Division 4 (forms on East 20th Street facing Broadway): Large Bond Bail Co., Lorain Public Library Bookmobile, First Student bus, American Red Cross and LifeCare EMS.
NORTH RIDGEVILLE
* The Memorial Day parade starts at 10 a.m. and extends from Center Ridge Road from Marc’s to the middle school. Immediately following the parade is the Memorial Day Ceremony at Ranger Stadium. The South Central Park Splash Pad will be open Memorial Day through Labor Day from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. There will also be a Memorial Day Party In The Park at South Central Park from 1 to 3 p.m.
ROCHESTER VILLAGE
* The Memorial Day parade is on Monday starting at 2 p.m. after a flag-raising ceremony at Village Hall.
SHEFFIELD LAKE
* The city is not having any Memorial Day events.
WELLINGTON
* Parade participants will assemble in front of the village hall at 10:30 a.m. The parade will march to Greenwood Cemetery then will proceed back to the village hall for closing ceremonies.
HURON COUNTY
MONROEVILLE
* The annual Memorial Day parade will start at 10 a.m. Monday at Monroeville High School and end at Commons Park. There will be a speaker, the high school band play “Taps” and the honor guard of the American Legion will have a salute. The ceremony will last about 90 minutes.
NEW LONDON
* The annual parade will start at 10 a.m. Monday at the American Legion Post 292 and will go through town to the veterans’ memorial next to the library. There will be veterans in the parade and New London high school and middle school bands to play “Taps.”
NORWALK
* The annual Memorial Day Parade and Program will be at 9 a.m. Monday. The parade will follow Woodlawn Avenue from north south of Water Street to Woodlawn Cemetery. A memorial program will be at the cemetery following the parade.
WAKEMAN
* Community Memorial Day events for Monday: Parade participants will assemble at 6:45 a.m. near Wakeman Congregational Church. At 7 a.m., all will march to the front of the old school on River Street. There will be a presentation and flag raising by Boy Scouts of Troop 242 and Cub Scouts of packs 238 and 246, along with Girl Scouts and Brownies under the direction of Mark Flashing, Scoutmaster. The scouts will lead the Pledge of Allegiance. Sister Carol from St. Mary Church will give the invocation. The Western Reserve High School Band under the direction of Glenda Jacob will perform. The placing of the memorial wreath in memory of Charter Memorial of Post 689 John Grady will be presented by his son, Patrick and sister, Peggy Heydinger. Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address will be delivered by Christen Dillon. The Memorial Day address will be given by Ross Baird. “In Flanders Field” will be presented by Beverly Stober. Pastor Matthew Reed will give Benediction. Members of Wakeman American Legion Post 689 will perform a rifle salute. A pancake and sausage breakfast will take place afterward from 8 to 9:15 a.m. at the Legion Hall. The public is invited.
ERIE COUNTY
CASTALIA
* The Thomas Neill Woman’s Relief Corps 275, The Boys and Girl Scouts and The United Communities of the Margaretta school system are celebrating Memorial Day with a parade on Monday. Decorated bicycles and vehicles are invited to participate. The parade lines up at 9:15 a.m. at the fire station on South Street and will make stops at the Veteran’s Memorial and the duck pond to lay wreaths and have a prayer. Services will be take place at Castalia Cemetery at 10 a.m. Parade units should call (419) 684-9276.
HURON
* Memorial Day ceremonies, organized by Huron AMVETS Memorial Post 49 and the Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts of Troop and Pack 31, begin Monday at 9 a.m. at the McCormick School Veterans Memorial on Ohio Street with flag raising and laying of a memorial wreath and salute. At 9:30 a.m., at Scott Cemetery Veterans Memorial, Huron-Avery Road, there will be a flag raising, laying of a memorial wreath and salute. The minister will be Tom Holzaepfel and speaker will be World War II veteran Floren James. At 10:30 a.m., at Huron City Building Veterans Memorial, there will be a flag raising, laying of a memorial wreath and salute, with Floren James speaking and Minister Tom Holzaepfel offering reflection and prayer.
MILAN
* The Memorial Day parade will gather at the village square on Edison Drive at approximately 10 a.m. and proceed down Center Street To Milan Cemetery for a ceremony and speakers. The group will then return to the village square.
PERKINS TOWNSHIP
* The Sandusky Memorial Day Association, in conjunction with the Ohio Veterans Home, will celebrate Memorial Day beginning at 9 a.m. Monday with a ceremony in front of the I.F. Mack Building at the Ohio Veterans Home. Immediately following the ceremony, the annual parade will start heading north on US 250 and end at Oakland Cemetery. This year’s grand marshals are Carl Abele and Stuart Heaberlin, both World War II veterans and prisoners of war. A ceremony at Oakland Cemetery will commence about 11 a.m. after the parade has concluded. The public is invited to attend all events.
* The township trustees will host the annual Memorial Day ceremony at noon Monday at the Perkins Cemetery off US 250. Master of ceremonies will be township Highway Superintendent Eric Dodrill. Also participating will be the Rev. Wally Gilbert from North Point Baptist Church, the color guard from the American Legion Post 83 and the honor guard from the Ohio Veterans Home, the Perkins High School Marching Band under the direction John Kustec and Boy Scout Troop 83, led by Mark Kusser.
SANDUSKY
* Memorial Day Ceremony and Parade begins at 9 a.m. at the Ohio Veterans Home. Parade participants march to Oakland Cemetery for memorial services which will end at noon. The Erie County Veterans Memorial Park Committee will have its Memorial Day service at 2 p.m. Sunday at First Presbyterian Church, 265 Jackson St. Following the church service, the assembly will move to the nearby Veterans Park for the salute to veterans.
VERMILION
* On Saturday at 9 a.m., AMVETS will place flags at Maple Grove and Rugby cemeteries. (The Veterans of Foreign Wars will remove flags after Flag Day.) On Sunday at 2 p.m., rifle squad and color guard as well as the Auxiliary will meet at Volunteer Bay. At 3:30 p.m., memorial services will take place at the Inn at Chapel Creek. At 4:30 p.m., services will take place at Lake Road Cemetery (McKenzie Woods). At 5 p.m., services will take place at the Vermilion High School Memorial.
* On Monday at 7 a.m., veterans will meet at the American Legion for coffee and doughnuts. At 8 a.m., veterans will form at Exchange Park to lower the flag to half-staff and place wreath. At 9 a.m., veterans will meet at Maple Grove Cemetery to lower flag to half staff and place wreath. At 10 a.m., veterans will form at Ferry Street for parade. At 11 a.m., there will be a memorial service at Victory Park. Guest speaker will be Lt. Col. Joel Hagy, who served with the U.S. Army for 28 years, All flags will be raised at noon on Memorial Day.
