memorial day | Schedule of events

Memorial Day events as submitted to The Vindicator. Unless otherwise noted, all events are on Monday, the holiday.

Mahoning County

Austintown: Memorial Day parade begins at 10:30 a.m. at Marc’s parking lot at Mahoning Avenue and Idaho Road and will proceed to Austintown Fitch High School Veterans Memorial. A commemorative service begins at 11 a.m., sponsored by Austintown Memorial American Legion Post 301 and Austintown VFW Post. Main speaker will be CWO3 Donald J. Oglesby, U.S. Coast Guard, retired.

Boardman: The 108th Memorial Day parade participants will assemble at Center Middle School on Market Street at 9:30 a.m. Parade begins at 10 a.m. and will proceed to the Maag Outdoor Arts Theater in Boardman Park. Sgt. James Rapone, USMC retired and Vietnam veteran, will be the grand marshal and featured speaker. Rev. Ash Welch of Boardman United Methodist Church will give the invocation. Mark Luke, member of Boardman Kiwanis, will be master of ceremonies, and Lt. Col. Bill Moss, USAF retired, will lead the Pledge of Allegiance and place a wreath in honor of deceased veterans. National Honor Society members from Boardman High School will place a wreath in honor of current military personnel. The Boardman Spartan Marching Band will be in the parade. In the event of rain, the service will be in Center Middle School auditorium.

Canfield: The 91st annual Memorial Day services begin at 10 a.m. Monday on the green presented by Canfield American Legion Post 177 and the War Vet Museum. In the event of rain, services will take place at the Canfield High School auditorium on Cardinal Drive.

Ellsworth: Services will be at 11 a.m. today at the VFW Post 9571 Hall on Ellsworth Road. The main speaker is Edward Vitikas, who is a World War II veteran and an Ellsworth resident. Megan Hardinger will be the Western Reserve High School student speaker sharing her “Voice of America” writing titled “Is There Pride in Serving in our Military?” A parade will follow from the hall to the Ellsworth cemetery on U.S. Route 224, where the VFW will pay tribute to deceased veterans.

North Jackson: A reading of the names of the fallen by parade marshal Don Schrock, a Vietnam veteran, begins at 8:45 a.m. at the Vietnam Memorial at Jackson-Milton football field. The parade begins at 9 a.m. from the football field parking lot and proceed to North Jackson Cemetery. Schrock’s brother, Fred, also a Vietnam veteran, will give the keynote address. The Jackson-Milton Marching Band, Scouting units, local fire departments and civic organizations will participate.

Poland: At 9 a.m., Squadron 15 Four Chaplains Memorial Service will be at the Post 15 home. The 40th annual parade begins at 10 a.m. at the corner of Lee and Cortland streets and lineup begins at 8:45 a.m. at Baird Mitchell Field. The Main Street Bridge Memorial Service for those lost at sea will be at 10:15 a.m., and memorial services in Riverside Cemetery are at 10:30 a.m. Grand Marshal is Dean McClain, past post commander and Korean War veteran. Speaker is U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Niles, D-17th, and special guests are Leo Connolly Jr., 2011 United Veterans Council Veteran of the Year, and Anthony Tisler, 2012 Ohio Military Hall of Fame for Valor. In case of inclement weather, ceremonies will be at Poland Middle School gymnasium.

Struthers: 9 a.m. service at Korean Memorial Bridge with Jerry Arendas, commander of VFW 7538, for those buried at sea. The 10 a.m. service will be at Struthers High School Veterans Memorial, where Commander Jim Dill of VFW 3538 will lead. Music by Struthers High School Band. Placing of the wreath by Ladies of VFWs 3538 and 7538. Speaker will be Mahoning County Commissioner John A. McNally IV. At 11 a.m., a service at Lake Park Cemetery veterans’ plot will be led by Commander Donna Burford of American Legion Post 158. Main speaker will be Commander J.P. Brown III of Post 44. Ladies Auxiliary of Posts 3538 and 7538 will place wreaths. Ray Ornelas will present a POW/MIA tablet. Struthers High School band will furnish music, and Boy Scout Troop 101 will lead the procession.

Youngstown: Golden Eagles of Smoky Hollow will have a memorial service at 11:15 a.m. at Walnut Street and Rayen Avenue.

Youngstown: VFW Post 6488 and Ladies Auxiliary will have a memorial service at 1 p.m. at VFW Post 6488, 2065 Coitsville-Hubbard Road. A special tribute will be made to Harry Meshel, former state senator and World War II veteran, and deceased veterans. Keynote speaker is Judge Joseph J. Vukovich of the 7th District Court of Appeals and a Vietnam veteran.

Trumbull County

Fowler: The annual Memorial Day program will be at 10 a.m. at Fowler United Methodist Church followed by a parade at 11 a.m. and services on the green conducted by VFW Post 3521. A light lunch will be served after the service at the fire station. The Butts House Museum will be open from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Vienna: The community’s 72nd Memorial Day observance will be at 12:30 p.m. in St. Thomas of the Apostle Church Social Hall, next to Mathews High School. It will be performed by VFW Post 3521. After the observance, participants will proceed to the Soldiers and Sailors Monument on the Township Green led by VFW Post 3521 and AMVETS Post 290.

Warren: There will be a wreath-laying ceremony at 9:30 a.m. on the Market Street bridge followed by a ceremony at 10 a.m. at the amphitheater downtown. The parade begins at 11:45 a.m. starting at Perkins Park.

Columbiana County

Columbiana: American Legion sponsors a parade at 10 a.m. from Main Street at West Park Avenue to Firestone Cemetery, where a service will follow.

Washingtonville: From 8 to 9:30 a.m., VFW York Drexler Post 5532 will host a free breakfast. A “Toast at the Post” honoring deceased veterans will be at 9 a.m. The parade begins at 10 a.m. at Washingtonville Plaza and proceeds to the Veterans Memorial at VFW Post 5532. The Leetonia High School band will participate with local youth and civic organizations. Keynote speaker will be Tim Calvin, a Greenford native and Navy veteran.

Leetonia: After the service at the veterans memorial in Washingtonville, a wreath- laying ceremony will be at Oakdale Cemetery at the grave site of Medal of Honor recipient Ralph E. Dias.

Mercer County

Mercer: At 8:50 a.m. there will be a 5K Freedom Fun Run. Register at the post office at 8 a.m. The race awards will be announced at 10:30 a.m. at the courthouse bandstand. At 9 a.m., military games will be on the north side of the courthouse and a veterans’ reception will be on the south side of the courthouse. New-recruit induction will be at 9 a.m. at the courthouse band- stand. At 9:15 a.m., the 2012 honoree recognition will be at the courthouse band stand. At 9:40 a.m., the Victory Belles from New Orleans will perform at the courthouse bandstand. The parade begins at 11 a.m. The Memorial Day salute will be at noon two blocks south of the courthouse.

Sharon: The parade will be at 11 a.m. and proceed to Oakwood Cemetery. These streets will be closed for the parade: Case Avenue from Linden Street to East State Street; East State Street from Case Avenue west to North Oakland Avenue; North Oakland Avenue from East State Street north to Oakwood Cemetery entrance; and all cross streets with North Oakland and East State Street.