Memorial Day will once again be commemorated locally with parades and solemn ceremonies at area cemeteries.
The following are some of the events planned in The News-Herald’s coverage area. They take place on May 27 unless otherwise noted.
Lake County
• Concord Township will hold a brief service at 9 a.m. at Concord Cemetery, which is located just east of Fire Station No. 1, 11599 Concord Hambden Road. This will be a time to honor and pay tribute to the veterans buried in the area cemeteries and remember loved ones that have died, organizers said.
• Eastlake will be hosting a presentation and ceremony at 11 a.m. at the Boulevard of 500 Flags, located at 35150 Lakeshore Blvd.
• Fairport Harbor’s observances begin at 8:30 a.m., with a program conducted by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7754 on the pier, northwest of the north end of Water Street. At 9 a.m., VFW Post representatives will arrive at Memorial Park, located on Third Street between Eagle and Plum streets, and preside over a brief program in the park.
Then, there will be a bike and golf cart parade from Memorial Park to Zion Lutheran Cemetery, 550 East St., for a 9:30 a.m. ceremony. The post will raise the colors, and the Fairport Harding High School Band will play the national anthem.
• Kirtland will host a parade and ceremony at 10 a.m. in conjunction with Barber-Williams American Legion Post 609. The parade will march from Kirtland High School, 9150 Chillicothe Road, to City Hall, 9301 Chillicothe Road. A service will follow at the adjacent Kirtland Area Veterans Memorial.
• The members of American Legion Posts 112 and 601 and VFW Post 8548 will have services at all Madison cemeteries followed by a parade. Memorial services will be at 7:20 a.m. at Thompson Cemetery, 7:40 at South Madison Cemetery, 7:45 at Route 84 Cemetery, 8 at Fairview Cemetery, 8:15 at Route 20 Cemetery, 8:25 at Madison High School, 8:45 at Arcola Cemetery, 9 at Dock Road Cemetery, 9:10 at Middle Ridge Cemetery, 9:20 at Madison Township Park and 9:40 at North Madison Cemetery.
A parade will follow at 10:55 a.m. It will start at South Elementary School on East Main Street in Madison Village and head to Village Park. Guest speaker will be retired Lake County Judge Richard Collins.Following the services, there will be the laying of the wreaths and a rifle salute.
• Mentor’s annual Memorial Day Ceremony will be at 10 a.m. at the Mentor Municipal Cemetery, 6881 Hopkins Road.
The ceremony will be preceded by a solemn procession which will step-off at 9:30 a.m. from Memorial Middle School, 8979 Mentor Ave. It will proceed north to the cemetery, arriving at the Mentor Memorial Promenade.
The keynote speaker this year will be author/historian Todd Arrington, who serves as site manager for the James A. Garfield National Historic Site. Then Congressman James A. Garfield delivered the keynote address at the very first Decoration Day ceremony held at Arlington National Cemetery on May 30, 1868. Decoration Day would eventually become known as Memorial Day.
Members of Mentor City Council and the administration as well as county and state elected officials and other veterans and civic groups will be in attendance.
• The annual AMVETS Memorial Day Parade will take place on May 26. The parade will start at Mentor-on-the-Lake City Hall at 1 p.m. and end at the AMVETS Post 109, 7847 Lakeshore Blvd. Golf carts are welcome to join in the procession.
Residents are encouraged to remember that this is a silent parade. Andrews Road north of City Hall and a portion of Lakeshore Boulevard will be closed for the duration of the parade and motorists should plan accordingly.
• Painesville will host a parade and ceremony in conjunction with American Legion Post 336. The parade will begin at 10 a.m. at Riverside Cemetery, 385 Riverside Drive, and march to Evergreen Cemetery, 501 E. Main St. where the American Legion will conduct a service.
• Events in the Perry community will begin at 9 a.m. in Townline Park near the shoreline where there will be a ceremony to honor those lost at sea. Then, at 9:30, there will be a ceremony at Perry Cemetery on Center Road to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice serving their country.
At 11, the parade steps off at Harper Street, marches along Main Street to the Perry Museum. Lastly, at 11:40, the Perry Historical Museum will host a Veterans Recognition Ceremony to honor all deceased veterans and those currently serving in the armed forces.
• The parade in Wickliffe is being organized by the American Legion Post 7 and VFW Post 2926. It will step off from the Premier Development parking lot at 9:45 a.m. and travel west on Euclid Avenue to Bishop Road where it will turn south. The parade will end at City Hall.
Following the parade, a ceremony will start at 11 a.m. and will include the raising of the flag by the Boy Scouts, Miss Poppy Proclamations and comments made by the Legion, as well as the VFW. This will be a solemn remembrance of those lost in war and service, and those who are still POW-MIA.
• Willoughby’s parade will take place at 9:30 a.m., leaving from downtown Willoughby, turning onto Park Avenue, then Murray Avenue, and it will finish in the cemetery. The ceremony will start at 10 a.m. The American Legion Post 214 and the VFW Post 15000 will have a flag raising at Willoughby Memorial Gardens Cemetery on Lakeshore Boulevard.
• Willoughby Hills VFW Post 4358 will pay tribute to all who have lost their lives while serving in the military with a ceremony at 11 a.m. at the Community Center’s outdoor memorial, located at 35400 Chardon Road.
Cuyahoga County
• Euclid will hold its annual events starting at 8 a.m. There will be graveside services at the Euclid Cemetery and then at St. Paul’s. The parade will be starting at 10 a.m. and will run from Lakeshore Boulevard down East 222nd Street to City Hall. An outside service will then take place there immediately following the parade.
• Highland Heights will be holding its annual celebration at 10 a.m. at the Veterans Peace Memorial, next to the Fire Department, 5827 Highland Road. Mayor Chuck Brunello Jr., will be joining the community in honoring the fallen soldiers. The event will have refreshments and light snacks, immediately following the ceremony.
• Mayfield Heights will have a service starting at 10 a.m. at City Hall, 6154 Mayfield Road. The service will have a 21-gun salute from the Police Honor Guard along with the Fire Honor Guard who will be standing guard at the Honor Roll Wall, which displays the names of Heights residents who have served the country.
The event will also have live music, and a speech from Mayor Anthony DiCicco.
• Mayfield Village will be holding its annual commemoration at 1 p.m. May 26. The community will be meeting at Whitehaven Memorial Park, 615 SOM Center Road, in order to remember all those who have perished while servicing in the country’s armed forces. The event will feature speeches, a Color Guard presentation and an acknowledgement of all service flags.
Geauga County
• Auburn Township will honor fallen veterans beginning at 8:45 a.m. May 26 with a ceremony at Maple Shade Cemetery followed by a gathering at the Adam Hall Community Center. The Auburn Museum will be open to visitors afterward.
• Bainbridge Township Historical Society will honor veterans May 26 with a parade beginning at Bainbridge Commons at 11:30 a.m. Attendees will then proceed to Restland Cemetery for a service. The speaker will be Linda Nutter, a U.S. Army veteran and retiring Kenston Elementary School teacher. Participants will include members of the Aurora American Legion Post 803, Mantua American Legion Post 193, Bainbridge Township trustees, Bainbridge fiscal officer, Bainbridge Police and Fire Departments, Bainbridge Civic Club, Historical Society, members of the Kenston High School choir and band and area boy and girl scouts.
• Chardon will host its Memorial Day Observance Ceremony from 10 to 11:30 a.m. in front of the courthouse. The event will be followed by a laying of wreaths and program at Chardon Memorial Cemetery. Also, Chardon VFW Post 6519 will hold a service at 11 a.m. at Park Cemetery.
• Claridon Township will host its Memorial Day March and Calling of Names beginning at 9 a.m. at East Cemetery.
• Middlefield Village will host its parade at the Middlefield Fire Department lineup starting at 11:30 a.m. The parade will end at the Middlefield Cemetery, on East High Street, state Route 87, just east of Thompson Avenue, where a ceremony will take place.
Children are invited to participate in the parade and can decorate a bike, scooter, wagon, etc., to ride. Those wishing to participate are asked to arrive at the hall at 11:30 a.m. All participants will receive an ice cream treat.
• The Montville Firefighters’ Association will host a pancake breakfast from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m., and again after a cemetery program until 11:30 a.m., at the Montville Community Center, 9755 Madison Road. The cost is $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 5-12, and free for military/veterans in uniform.
• Munson Township will hold a service at 8:30 a.m. at Maple Hill Cemetery, 13480 Auburn Road. The speaker will be Geauga County Commissioner Ralph Spidalieri.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article was edited at 1:10 p.m. May 20 to add the Chardon VFW service.
