FPS staff report
May 19, 2009
 Memorial Day observances are planned for this weekend in Carrollton, Augusta, Malvern and Moultrie Cemetery and Chapel.
A flyover by C-130 Air Force planes will be part of Carrollton’s Memorial Day service to be held at Westview Cemetery beginning at 11 a.m. The flyover, arranged by Rodger Barto, a U. S. Air Force veteran, is scheduled between 11 and 11:15 a.m., Barto said.
Guest speaker will be State Rep. Mark Okey, who represents the 61st District in the Ohio House of Representatives, which includes all of Carroll County. Rep. Okey will be introduced by Bill Moore, Finance officer of Carroll American Legion Post 428, who will serve as master of ceremonies.
The 11 a.m. service will be preceded by a parade beginning at 10 a.m. and will include the singing of the National Anthem led by Elizabeth Domer, invocation and benediction by Rev. Robert King, a Vietnam veteran and pastor of Pleasant Valley Church.
Taylor Thompson will give his Voice of Democracy (VOD) speech, which earned him a win at the district level and second place in the state VOD competition.
Following Okay’s address, wreaths will be placed at the Veterans monument by VFW Commander Toby Davis and Legion Past Commander Ronald Davis and in front of the flagpole by Janice Dunlap, VFW Ladies Auxiliary president.
The ceremony will continue with a firing salute under the direction of Rodger Barto. Taps will be played by Michael Moore and Kevin Brantch. The service will conclude with the reading of names of deceased veterans since Memorial Day of 2008.
Local veterans are scheduled to meet at 6 p.m. this Friday at Grandview Cemetery to decorate graves. Flags will be distributed and a crew sent to Westview Cemetery to place flags on veteran’s graves there. The rain date is this Saturday at 2 p.m.
All veterans are to meet at 10 a.m. Sunday at the VFW Post Home on Chase Rd., east of Carrollton, to form a color guard and firing squad to conduct services are four area cemeteries. They include Herrington Bethel United Methodist Church at 11 a.m., Mechanicstown at 11:45 a.m., Scroggsfield at 12:15 p.m. and Harlem Springs at 12:30 p.m. The group will then return to the VFW Post for lunch.
All veterans and their families are invited to gather at the Carroll County Veterans Clubhouse on Brenner Rd. for a flag raising to be held at 7 a.m. Monday, May 25, followed by breakfast. The group will then proceed to the VFW on Chase Rd. for a flag raising at 8:30 a.m. and return to Public Square Park in Carrollton for a flag raising at 9 a.m.
Parade units will begin forming on 3rd St. NE by Carrollton High School and will step off promptly at 10 a.m. and proceed to Westview Cemetery where ceremonies will begin at approximately 11 a.m.
Augusta Cemetery Services
Memorial Day services will be held at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, May 24, at Augusta Cemetery and will be conducted by the Don F. Cross American Legion Post 357 of Minerva. The speaker will be Blaine J. Werner of Louisville. The pubic is invited to attend.
Ceremonies at Malvern
The annual Memorial Day observance at Malvern will include a Memorial Day parade beginning at 9 a.m., proceeding to St. Francis Xavier Church for brief ceremony and the continuing to Bethlehem Cemetery for additional ceremonies.
Joe Rockwell of the American Legion Department of Ohio will be the featured speaker. Rockwell is a 37-year life member of Lake Milton American Legion Post 737 and was elected Department treasurer of the 90th Department of Ohio at the Ohio annual convention July 13, 2008, in Dayton.
He earned his eligibility to join the American Legion for his service in the United States Army during the Vietnam War.
He has actively served the American Legion at the Post, District, Department and National levels. Rockwell is currently serving on the following Legion committees: Department Convention Corps, Law and Order, Scholarship Screening, Finance, VA & R, and the Publication Board.
He is service officer and Boys State chairman for his County and Post and is also a vice chairman on the National American Legion Council. Joe and his wife, Sherrill, reside in Sebring.
All veterans in the Malvern are asked to march in Monday’s parade and join the assemblage at the cemeteries. Members of the Sons of the American Legion, Detachment No. 375, also are asked to march in a group similar to those who have marched in recent years. The public is invited to the Post Home located at the corner of Bridge and Grant streets after the ceremonies for a complimentary lunch.
Moultrie Chapel Services
The West Township Memorial Association will hold Memorial Day services Monday, May 25, at Moultrie Chapel located on SR 172, two miles east of New Franklin.
The march to decorate the graves will begin at 2 p.m., led by the Don V. Cross American Legion Post 357 from Minerva.
Hannah Reusser, a 5th grader at West elementary school, will recite the Gettysburg Address. Patriotic music and taps will be provided by the Minerva High School symphonic band and a special Memorial Day poem will be recited by Austin Lowmiller, a 5th grader.
The program inside the chapel will include an address by Taylor Thompson, a junior at Carrollton High School and son of Margie Thompson. Taylor is a member of the speech and debate team and National Honor Society at CHS. He is also a member of the varsity golf team and won the Voice of Democracy contest sponsored by the VFW Post three consecutive years.
This year the speech he will deliver at Moultrie Chapel placed second at the state level. Special music will be provided by Valerie and James Oakley and Aria Long. Congregational singing will follow and ice cream will be served at the conclusion of the services.
The West Township Memorial Association includes Shirley Whiteleather Fox, president; Jeff Haynam, vice president; Edgar Haynam, secretary; Elmer Steves, treasurer, and Members Diane Haynam Richeson and Michael E. Ray. |
