MEMORIAL DAY Local events

A listing of Memorial Day events as submitted to The Vindicator. All events are Monday unless otherwise noted:
MAHONING COUNTY
Austintown: American Legion Memorial Post No. 301 will host the annual parade beginning at 10:30 a.m. The parade will form at the corner of Mahoning Avenue and Idaho Road in Marc's parking lot. It will proceed to the Veterans Memorial at the main entrance to Fitch High School.
Boardman: Boardman Spartan Marching Band will take part in the 102nd Memorial Day Parade. Boardman Kiwanis Club invites any township group to participate in the parade. Participants will assemble at 9:30 a.m. at Center Middle School, Market Street, and the parade will begin at 10 a.m. The parade will proceed north on Market to U.S. Route 224, east on Route 224 to Boardman Park and continue to the park's Maag Outdoor Arts Theatre for the Memorial Day service. Those attending the service may want to bring folding chairs. John A. Darnell Jr., associate editor of The Boardman News, will be the grand marshal and speaker. Rev. John Ash Welce of the Boardman United Methodist Church will give the invocation, and Mark Luke, Kiwanis member, will be master of ceremonies. Lt. Col. Bill Moss, retired from the Air Force, will place a wreath in honor of deceased veterans. The high school's National Honor Society will place a wreath in honor of military personnel serving in Iraq, Afghanistan and other places. The high school symphonic band will provide music for the memorial service. In the event of rain, the service will be in Center Middle School auditorium.
Boardman: Boardman Spartan Marching Band will take part in the 102nd Memorial Day Parade. Boardman Kiwanis Club invites any township group to participate in the parade. Participants will assemble at 9:30 a.m. at Center Middle School, Market Street, and the parade will begin at 10 a.m. The parade will proceed north on Market to U.S. Route 224, east on Route 224 to Boardman Park and continue to the park's Maag Outdoor Arts Theatre for the Memorial Day service. Those attending the service may want to bring folding chairs. John A. Darnell Jr., associate editor of The Boardman News, will be the grand marshal and speaker. Rev. John Ash Welce of the Boardman United Methodist Church will give the invocation, and Mark Luke, Kiwanis member, will be master of ceremonies. Lt. Col. Bill Moss, retired from the Air Force, will place a wreath in honor of deceased veterans. The high school's National Honor Society will place a wreath in honor of military personnel serving in Iraq, Afghanistan and other places. The high school symphonic band will provide music for the memorial service. In the event of rain, the service will be in Center Middle School auditorium.
Canfield: The 85th annual Memorial Day Service On the Green will take place at 10 a.m. Keynote speaker will be Senior Master Sgt. John Daniels of the Air Force. Canfield High School Band will provide music. Services will be conducted by Canfield American Legion Post 177 and the War Vet Museum, Lew Speece, commander. Participants will march to the cemetery for the placing of the wreath, firing squad and taps. The War Vet Museum will be open for tours. Refreshments will be on sale.
Coitsville: VFW Post 6488 and its Ladies Auxiliary will have a Memorial Day service at 1 p.m. at 2065 Coitsville-Hubbard Road, with special tribute to the widows of departed comrades. Keynote speaker is John W. Twohig, director of the Mahoning County Veterans Service Commission. Refreshments will be served.
Lowellville: American Legion Post 247 will host services beginning at 10 a.m. with a procession in Holy Rosary Cemetery, which will also include the Mount Carmel Band and civic dignitaries. Joe Rockwell, former American Legion District and County commander, will deliver the address. A second ceremony will take place in Poland Township Cemetery. A final salute to the colors will be in front of the village administration building on Liberty Street. All attending are invited to share refreshments, which will be served in the second-floor auditorium of the administration building.
New Middletown: Lineup for the village's parade will begin at 9:30 a.m. at Springfield High School. The parade will step off at 10 a.m. from the school and will proceed to Springfield Elementary School war memorial, where a short service will be held. State Rep. John Boccieri of New Middletown, D-61st, will be the speaker.
New Springfield: VFW Triangle Post 2799 and its auxiliaries will sponsor a service and dignified flag-burning ceremony at 1 p.m. Sunday at the post, 3161 E. South Range Road. Worn and tattered flags will be accepted for proper disposal. For more information, call the post (330) 542-9928.
Poland: Mahoning Valley Post 15 of the American Legion Memorial Day activities begin with a 9 a.m. ceremony at the post, 35 Cortland St. In case of inclement weather, the ceremony will be in the Poland Middle School gymnasium.
The parade begins at 10 a.m. and travels from the Post down College Street, turns right on South Main Street, left on Riverside Drive and into the Riverside Cemetery. A ceremony also will be conducted on the Main Street Bridge in honor of those lost at sea. There will be a full memorial service in the cemetery. Mahoning County Commissioner Dave Ludt will serve as speaker of the day. Marine Corps Maj. Brian Kennedy will be honorary parade marshal.
Struthers: Memorial Day services will be at 9 a.m. at the state Route 616 bridge over the Mahoning River. Jerry Arenda, commander of VFW Post 7538 ,will lead. At 10 a.m. there will be a service at Struthers Fieldhouse Veterans Memorial. Ray Ornelas, first vice commander of VFW Post 3538, will be the leader and the Struthers High School Band will plan. At 11 a.m., a service will be at Lake Park Cemetery Veterans Plot. Donna Burford, commander of American Legion Post 158, will lead. Music will be presented by Struthers High School Band. The speaker will be Paul Davis, retired Struthers businessman.
Youngstown: Smoky Hollow Memorial Day Services, 11:15 a.m. corner of Walnut Street and Rayen Avenue.
TRUMBULL COUNTY
Girard: Memorial Day services will be at 11 a.m. at Girard Cemetery. Thee Girard High School Band and American Legion Post 235 Honor guard will participate.
Fowler: The township has held a Memorial Day celebration annually since 1894. A service will be at 10 a.m. in Fowler United Methodist Church. This will be followed by an 11 a.m. service on the township green conducted by the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3521 of Vienna. Any Scout, athletic organization or veterans group is welcome to participate. Veterans that need transportation, including those in wheelchairs, can contact (330) 637-2006. The World War II Vehicle Museum and Learning Center of Hubbard will participate in the parade and feature reenactments on the green. A free light lunch will be served after the service at the Fowler Fire Station. The Butts House Museum and Town Hall built in 1852 will be open from 1-5 p.m. Sunday, and 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Memorial Day.
Kinsman/Vernon: Harry Lees American Legion Post 506, state Route 87, will have services at 10 a.m. at Vernon Town Hall and at 11 a.m. in Kinsman Square. Directly after that, there will be a program at Joseph Badger High School auditorium, then a brief ceremony at Kinsman Cemetery followed by a luncheon at the legion hall.
McDonald: Memorial Day services, sponsored by the McDonald Volunteer Fire Department Social Organization, will be at noon Sunday at the war memorial at Fifth Street and Pennsylvania Avenue. Guest speaker will be Capt. Brent Davis of the Youngstown Air Reserve Station, Vienna. A parade from the high school to the memorial will begin about 11:50 a.m. Refreshments will be served after the service at the fire department.
Newton Falls: Parade and services will be held. Raymond Hanzes, past Trumbull County commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars and past commander of VFW Post 3332, will be master of ceremonies. Special presentation will be made to Alex Kish, Michael Cossack and Jess Contle, Pearl Harbor survivors. Retired Chief Warrant Officer Peter Augusta will be guest speaker. Parade will line up at 10 a.m. at Arlington School and begin at 10:30 a.m. Laying of the wreath will be at West River Bridge in Four Seasons Memorial Park in memory of those who died at sea. Open houses will be from noon to 2 p.m. at AMVETS Post 112 and Army/Navy Garrison 271 at Post 112, Broad Street; 1-3 p.m. at American Legion Post 236, East River Road; from 2-4 p.m. at VFW Post 3332, Arlington Avenue.
Niles: Memorial Day services will be at 11 a.m. at Niles City Cemetery on state Route 46. Navy Petty Officer 2nd class Joseph Skowran with the Warren Recruiting Office will be the guest speaker.
Warren: At 9 a.m., a wreath will be cast off the east end of the West Market Street Bridge downtown to honor those who have been lost at sea. The program will begin a 10 a.m. with Robert H. Brothers serving as master of ceremonies. The parade will begin at 11:30 a.m. at the bridge with Phil Romain serving as marshal. The parade will travel east along East Market Street to Chestnut Avenue, south to Niles Road and onto Oakwood Cemetery. The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1090 Auxiliary will have a service for the unknown soldier.
COLUMBIANA COUNTY
Columbiana: American Legion Parade starts at 10 a.m. at Heartland Christian Academy and ends at Firestone Cemetery.
East Palestine: American Legion Parade begins at 11 a.m.
Leetonia and Washingtonville: The joint parade will be in Washingtonville this year. It starts at 10 a.m. at Washingtonville Pharmacy and ends at VFW Post 5532 Memorial. There will be memorial services at Wick Park Memorial in Leetonia following the Washingtonville parade and services.
Lisbon: A song service will be at 10 a.m. Sunday at the Lisbon Historical Train Station. On Monday, a parade will begin at 9 a.m. at the American Legion on West Lincoln Way and end at Lisbon Cemetery. The speakers will be three brothers from Gavers, Adam L., Jacob E. and Samuel L. Newbold, who were Navy Seals.
Salem: Services begins at 9 a.m. on the lawn at the American Legion on the corner of East State Street and South Lincoln Avenue. The parade forms at 9:30 a.m. on South Broadway and marches to Hope Cemetery for a ceremony at 11 a.m.
MERCER COUNTY
Mercer: Parade will begin at 11 a.m. and march along Pitt Street from Venango to Beaver streets. This hourlong event highlights three veteran honorees, Navy Petty Officer, Retired, Robert Fike, Hermitage; Army Capt. (Retired) William D. Gregg, Mercer; and Air Force Master Sgt. (Retired) Samuel McCurdy, Jackson Center. Included in the parade will be Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps of Washington D.C., Balmoral Highlander Pipe and Drum of Pittsburgh and riderless horse to honor Lt. Col. Michael McLaughlin of Mercer, killed in Iraq. At noon there will be a Memorial Day observance. The keynote speaker will be U.S. Army Colonel Donald Jones, retired. Jones was a former Farrell basketball standout, served two tours of duty in Vietnam, commanded a company in the 101st Airborne and the A-Team of the Special Forces and has had a heroic and decorated military career. Former POWs will be present. Penn Ohio Singers and the Balmoral Highlanders and Old Guard will provide special music.
Sharon: Memorial Day Parade, 11 a.m. Parade forms at Case Avenue and will go down State Street, then to Oakwood Cemetery where a service will be held. The speaker will be Major Sheetz, commanding officer of the Army Reserve in Mercer County.
LAWRENCE COUNTY
New Castle: There will be two services beginning at 10 a.m. One will begin at the veterans memorial in front of the Lawrence County Government Center at East Washington and Court streets. Veterans will then march on East Washington Street toward downtown and toss a wreath over the bridge in honor of deceased veterans. They will continue to Kennedy Square, where the American flag will be raised. A memorial in honor of deceased veteran Mike Banko will then be dedicated at American Legion Post 343 on North Jefferson Street. The other ceremony will be by veterans in the city's Mahoningtown section. A parade will begin at St. Lucy's Church and continue to the veterans' memorial on Mahoning Avenue.