Hundreds turn out to Grove City Memorial Day parade, ceremony to remember the fallen

Hundreds gathered in Grove City on Monday for a return to a Memorial Day tradition that has been missing since the pandemic.

The parade began at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church traveled down Broadway, stopped for a brief ceremony at Grove City Hall, and continued to Grove City Cemetery for the memorial service, where the weather was over 85 degrees and sunny.

Brayden Vetter, 17 and a life rank member of the Boy Scouts, was carrying the American flag, representing Troop 392. Each year, Troop 392 places flags on the graves of servicemembers. Vetter said it was humbling to honor the fallen servicemembers, "knowing how many people served our country for us to be free right now."

When he was younger, he said he remembered looking up to those who carried the flags in the Grove City parade.

"I'm the person the kids are looking at," Vetter said.

Members of the Central Crossing High School Marching Band were excited to participate for the first time — and for many, their last high school performance as a group.

Jacob Schwartz, a 19-year-old trumpet player, said this was his first time marching in the parade. He said the band was planning on marching his sophomore year of high school, but the pandemic cancelled the event.

Schwartz reflected on what the parade meant to him since it was the last performance for the seniors.

"This band means so much to me, just seeing everyone grow, even though we weren't expecting this to be the last thing we did," he said.

Riya Smith, a 16-year-old member of Central Crossing's color guard, said she was excited to honor those who died in service to the United States of America.

"This my first time marching and I'm glad my section was able to learn the routine to pay respects," said Smith, a junior.

At the cemetery service, Grove City Mayor Richard Stage read off the list of more than a dozen Grove City servicemembers who died in wars ranging from World War II to the War on Terror.

"These are our fallen comrades, our warriors," Stage said. "Please pay homage and understand that today is Memorial Day to give our utmost respect and thanks to those ... who made the ultimate sacrifice."

Jeff Shipley, commander of the American Legion Paschall Post 164 and Veterans of Foreign War 8198, said while it was nice to hold a socially distanced ceremony at the Grove City Cemetery last year, it was good to have the parade back.

"It's great to have everybody back down here, I know they're happy to be here," Shipley said.

Jason Gale, 40, a parade watcher, said it was "amazing to see people come out and seeing what this day really means."

"At this time in our country, I think it's amazing we have this much patriotism," Gale said. "All those people that have actually come before us who have sacrificed and died for the stuff that we take so much for granted."

Cole Behrens is a reporter at The Columbus Dispatch covering public safety and breaking news. You can reach him at CBehrens@dispatch.com or find him on Twitter at @Colebehr_report.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Grove City remembers fallen servicemembers at Memorial Day parade