Whether you’re a veteran, have a loved one that is a veteran, or you’re a local who is looking for ways to honor Memorial Day, there are plenty of events going on this weekend in Athens County.
For those within the City of Athens, there will be events hosted by the Athens American Legion on Memorial Day, Monday.
There will be a breakfast held from 7-9 a.m. at the Athens American Legion Post 21, 520 W. State St., Athens.
Following the breakfast, this year’s parade will begin at 10:30 a.m., and will conclude with the ceremony at 11 a.m., occurring at West Union Street cemetery.
After the parade and ceremony, there will be a lunch held at the Athens American Legion. There will also be a lunch provided at Amvets Post 76 in Athens, open to members and all veterans.
The annual Memorial Day service at the Ridges will be held at 1 p.m. Monday at Cemetery No. 1 off of Water Tower Drive. This event will honor Granderson Norman, Civil War Veteran (1815-1905) and Amanda Holbert (1866-1885).
Also occurring this week in Athens is the Windy 9 motorcycling event at 1 p.m. Friday.
For those in the New Marshfield area, the 77th Annual Memorial Day Service hosted by the Southeastern Ohio Veterans Memorial Support Group will be held Monday at the old section of the New Marshfield cemetery. This service is both the oldest and the largest in southeastern Ohio.
The service is set to begin at 10 a.m., with a parade led by Boy Scout Troop 50 and Girl Scout Troop 7071, followed by the Athens County Antique Machinery Club, the local Hot Rodders, and others.
The memorial service will begin at 10:15 a.m., with Adelbert Winegardner giving the invocation, then retired U.S. Air Force Brigadier General, Curt Heady, will read General Logan’s order.
The event will also feature guest speakers Dana Russell and Pete Donofrio representing the 801st Medical Evacuation Squadron of World War II. They will give a speech about emergency medical evacuation of wounded soldiers during ongoing battles in the South Pacific from 1941 to 1945.
There will also be live entertainment from Cliff Caughey, Steve Carlson and Jimmy Pilgrim, performing patriotic music.
The Sacred Grave Site services will be led by the U.S. Army National Guard Lieutenant Colonel Robert Lytton lll, followed by the firing squad of Mike Hicks and Lou Wallace.
Following shortafter will be the dueling taps, played by John Schlabach and Kyke Miller.
Program Director Jim Pilgrim hopes to emphasize the main idea behind the day.
"I am very humbled to direct this service,” he said. “I was in the Coast Guard and once we serve we always serve. Memorial Day isn't about veterans and families having cookouts, but it is about service members who made the ultimate sacrifice in combat for our freedoms."
The annual event hopes to attract veterans and local families alike, as this day is something everyone can appreciate and celebrate together.
David Milner, Service Officer of the Day, is happy to attend and help with the event.
"I've been helping with this Memorial Day service for years, especially by putting 10s of 1000s of new American flags on veteran’s graves,” said Milner. “What makes me emotional is the thought that since 1800 or so, people in Waterloo Township have been burying, honoring and grieving their dead right here, and in this cemetery they have been doing the same since the Civil War every single year. Kevin Martin told me that there are direct descendants of the township’s original founders that still come to this service. That is exceptional."
This Memorial Day service has undoubtedly had an impact on the community, as many of the attendees return each year.
This exciting and honorable event is open to the public and all veterans are encouraged to come be a part of the service.
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