Memorial Day across the Tuscarawas Valley
Communities across the Tuscarawas Valley will be observing Memorial Day will services on May 30.
Here is a listing of the events:
NEW PHILADELPHIA — The New Philadelphia Veterans Coordinating Committee will be conducting its annual Memorial Day service on May 30, beginning at 11 a.m. on Court House Square in downtown New Philadelphia.
The New Philadelphia Veterans’ Coordinating Committee represents New Philadelphia’s three veterans’ service organizations — American Legion Post 139, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1445 and Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 857 — and is supported by the Tuscarawas County Veterans Service Office.
New Philadelphia Mayor Joel Day is the guest speaker.
The New Philadelphia High School Marching Quaker Band student musicians, under the direction of Jeff Furbay, will launch the the program with the playing of the National Anthem.
Welty Middle School students under the direction of Sharon Ricklic will demonstrate the proper folding of Old Glory, explaining the meaning of each fold. Welty students will also recite President Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address and the poem "In Flanders Fields."
Student vocalists from the Delphian Chorale under the direction of Sharon Prucha will perform patriotic songs.
Volleys and Taps will be rendered in honor of all the members of the U.S. Armed Forces who made the ultimate sacrifice in the defense of our nation. The volleys will be rendered by veteran volunteers from New Philadelphia’s veterans’ service organizations while Echo Taps will be sounded by musicians from the high school band.
In the event of severe weather, the event will be cancelled.
DOVER — The Memorial Day ceremony, with Dover American Legion Post 205 Commander Kevin Thomas serving as master of ceremonies, will be held at the Maple Grove Cemetery, beginning at 10 a.m. The guest speaker will be Ron Crabtree, commander of the New Philadelphia American Legion Post 139. Other participants will be students from the Dover eighth grade. Grant Mathias will be reciting “The Gettysburg Address” and Laney Gottshall will recite “In Flanders Fields.” The Dover High School Band and the Dover High School Choir will also be preforming. In case of inclement weather, the ceremony will be held at Memorial Hall.
TWIN CITIES — Services will be held at St. Mary's Cemetery at 8 a.m., Haverfield Park at 8:30, Dennison Depot at 9, the Civil War Memorial at Union Cemetery in Uhrichsville at 10, the New Soldier's Plot at 11 and Newport United Methodist Church at 11:30 a.m.
Robert Michels will serve as master of ceremonies, Jon Baker of The Times-Reporter will be the guest speaker and Kory Rowland of First United Methodist Church in Uhrichsville will be the chaplain. Jocelyn Scalambrino, a student at Claymont High School, will be a special read and Wendy Mann will read the name of deceased veterans. Music will be provided by the Claymont band and Terry Wright. American Legion Post sponsor is Post 491 in Dennison. The Catholic cemetery leader will be Deacon Ron Onslow.
NEWCOMERSTOWN — Services will be at 10:30 a.m. at West Lawn Cemetery. Featured speakers are Danielle Casey, who retired from the U.S. Air Force and currently a biology teacher at River View High School, and Newcomerstown High School senior Austin Lambes, who has enlisted in the United States Air Force. The Newcomerstown Honor Guard will present the colors for the event . Anyone who plans to attend should bring their own seating.
STRASBURG — Kevin McDougal, high school/middle school principal, will be the guest speaker at services beginning at 10 a.m. at Grandview Union Cemetery, sponsored by the Charles Hofer American Legion Post 522. The parade, led by the Strasburg police and Strasburg Tiger marching band, will form in front of the school at 9:30 a.m. and step-off at 10 a.m. to march, up Bodmer Avenue, to the cemetery.
Carolyn Zehnder will provide a musical selection, “I Still Believe in America.” Josie Lautenschleger, daughter of David and Susan Lautenschleger, will give the Gettysburg address, Carter Pratt, a son of Chris and Becky Pratt will offer “In Flander’s Field” and Jacob Ross, son of Staci Becker and step-father Ed Becker, will give the response to “Flander’s Field.”
Buckeye Boys’ State delegates Cole Hutchison, Elijah Johnson and Micah Metz and Buckeye Girls’ State delegates Lilly Myers and Maggie Richards will participate in the services.
Mayor Steve Smith will read the membership role of the American Legion Post No. 522. Rev. Jim Baker will be calling the role of the deceased members.
SUGARCREEK — The Sugarcreek Homer Weiss Post No. 494 will be sponsoring Memorial Day services on Monday. The post’s honor team is planning to conduct a ceremony at 7:45 a.m. at the Veteran’s Memorial in Walnut Creek. The team will then conduct honors at the Dundee Cemetery at about 8:30 – 8:40 a.m. Sugarcreek will hold ceremonies at Eastlawn Cemetery at 9:20 a.m. There will be a short ceremony at about 10:30 a.m. at Union Hill Cemetery, at the grave of Homer Weiss, to honor veterans buried in that cemetery. Members of Post No. 494 will conduct a service at Ragersville cemetery and also hold a service at 10:30 a.m. at the Baltic cemetery.
Ron Troyer will be the featured speaker at the Sugarcreek services. He was raised in Holmes County and graduated from Hiland High. He was drafted and served in the U.S. Army. He served in the First Infantry Division and 23rd Light Infantry Brigade in Vietnam.
Also participating at Sugarcreek will be the Garaway High Marching Pirates, Boy and Girl Scouts, post Commander Dan Crenner and post Chaplain Bill Johnson. Zooey Collins, daughter of Monte and Brittany Collins, will recite "In Flander’s Field” and Chloe Bracken, daughter of Mike and Natalie Bracken and Rachel and Brode Wilson, will give the Gettysburg Address. They are students at Miller Avenue Elementary.
Scott Derr of Dover will be portraying a Civil War veteran. He will be placing the Medal of Honor flag at the grave of Milton Blickensderfer, who was awarded the medal during the Civil War.
BOLIVAR — The Memorial Day parade will step off from the Tuscarawas Valley Intermediate School at 10 a.m. and will march to Fort Laurens Memorial Park. Line-up begins at 9:30 a.m. The parade will be led by the Tuscarawas Valley marching band, directed by Merri Ginsley. The guest speaker will be the Rev. Jeff Schultz, pastor of Bolivar St. John United Church of Christ. Schultz will also offer the invocation and benediction.
Karen McFadden will serve at parade marshal. Fort Laurens Post No. 190 American Legion Commander John Stewart will give the welcome. The Pledge of Allegiance will be led by the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary. The Legion honor guard will post a wreath at the memorial. Bo Wolf will recite the Gettysburg Address and Kimberly Christ will give “In Flander’s Field.” The National Anthem and taps will be played by the marching band.
In case of rain, the program will be held at 10 a.m. in the Intermediate School gym on Park Street in Bolivar.
ZOAR — Line-up for the parade will begin Monday at the Zoar Fire Station and march to the Zoar cemetery, where services will be held at 8 a.m. Tuscarawas Valley marching band will lead the parade under the direction of Merri Ginsley. The parade marshal is Karen McFadden. The guest speaker will be the Rev. Jeff Shultz, pastor of Bolivar St. John United Church of Christ.
Commander John Stewart will give the welcome and Shultz will give the invocation and benediction. The Pledge of Allegiance will be led by the Ladies Auxiliary of Post No. 190. Mathew Koehler will recite the Gettysburg Address and Kimberly Christ will give “In Flander’s Field.”
The Legion honor guard will post the wreath at the memorial. Taps and National Anthem will be played as a salute to the deceased veterans. In case of rain, the program will be held at 10 a.m. in the Intermediate School gym on Park Street in Bolivar.
ROSWELL — A parade beginning at 10 a.m. will step off from the former St. Elizabeth’s church. It will proceed to the park where a service will be held at 10:30. Following the service, a festival will be get underway with food trucks, a baseball game between Roswell and Midvale and a water balloon fight. The Spikeman will be on hand for the cruise-in that begins at 11 a.m. Spikeman will be providing entertainment until 3 p.m.
BARNHILL — No service is being held but the Veterans Memorial is getting refurbished with new red, white and blue river rock, new flags, and is being pressure washed and repairs made where necessary.
MIDVALE — The Midvale service begins at 11 a.m., at the Veteran’s Memorial at the square. Refreshments, including hot dogs, will be served at the former fire station following the service.
TUSCARAWAS — Parade lineup and a VFW salute will be held at the Indian Valley Middle School prior to the start of the parade. The parade steps off at 10 a.m. and proceed to the park. Mayor Dana Moore will give the welcome and introduction at a service at 10:30 a.m. Indian Valley Marching Braves will play the National Anthem. An Invocation will be given by Dorsey Davisson, the pastor at Hartwood Community Church. Speaker will be Chris Hart. Chicken dinners will also be sold at the Warwick Township Fire Station following the service.
GNADENHUTTEN — A service will be held at 9 a.m. at the cemetery with the Indian Valley Marching Braves in attendance.
BOWERSTON — A Memorial Day celebration will be held at Gateway Park. Event coordinator Milo Baker announced that the celebration will begin at 11:45 a.m. as Troy Akins, of Music du Jour, will kick off the event playing patriotic tunes. The official service is set for noon.
This year’s keynote speaker is Chief Probation Officer Andrew Foreman of the Harrison County Common Pleas Court. Foreman is retired from the U.S. Marine Corps, having served in Japan, Iraq and Afghanistan, before finishing his USMC career in Quantico, Va.
Other special guests will include Palmer Love of Bowerston, Conotton Valley High School’s band, along with Scio American Legion Post 482, who will all be honoring fallen servicemen and women.
PORT WASHINGTON — Services will begin at noon at the cemetery, followed by a parade. The guest speaker will be Jim Thornton. Thornton is a retired USMC and U.S. Army veteran. He is currently employed at the local veterans administration. A chicken dinner will be hosted by the Delaware Valley Joint Fire District.
WILMOT — The Wilmot Cemetery Association will conduct the observance at Greenlawn Cemetery beginning at 8:45 a.m. Guest speaker will be Stark County Commissioner Richard Regula. Music will be provided by the Fairless High School March Banding. Ceremonies honoring all veterans will be conducted by the Beach City American Legion Weimer-Widder Post 549 and will include the reading of the Roll of Honor of veterans who are buried in the cemetery. In case of inclement weather, the event will be held at Faith Christian Academy, 511 W. Main St., Wilmot.
BLISSFIELD — Memorial Day services will be at 2 p.m. May 29 at the Blissfield Cemetery, south of the Holmes-Coshocton County line off of state Route 60. Killbuck VFW Post 7079 will conduct military graveside services in honor of Michael Didinger of Millersburg, who died Dec. 14, 2021. He served in the U.S. Army in the Vietnam War. Keynote speaker is Ken Smailes, local historian and pastor. The Walhonding Rube Band will provide music. In case of inclement weather, the services will be held at the Blissfield United Methodist Church.
This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Memorial Day across the Tuscarawas Valley
