Speaker dies at Austintown Memorial Day ceremony

AUSTINTOWN — An already-somber occasion turned even more so in the township today.

After addressing attendees as part of a Memorial Day commemoration at Austintown Fitch High School. Gary Kommel collapsed and later died. Kommel was commander of the township’s American Legion Memorial Post 301.

“It was right by the flagpole there,” said Barry Garhammer, a post member who attended the service.

Kommel had just introduced Seth Welch, a Fitch student and a Boy Scout who made the veterans’ memorial at the school as his Eagle Scout service project.

“Seth was just starting to speak when Gary went down,” said Kenneth Jakubec, who, as a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, was the event’s keynote speaker.

For the complete story, read Tuesday's Vindicator and Vindy.com