Green, Lakemore celebrate Memorial Day with memorable
events
Photos above and below:
Joyce Rainey Long
 
SOUTH SUMMIT — About 100 entries entertained parade-goers at the annual Green Memorial Day parade May 29.
The Green High School band, politicians, local businesses and organizations, Boy Scouts, Indian Guides and Princesses, sports teams, churches, the Summit County Sheriff’s Office and antique cars participated in the parade, along with many others.
Members of the Greentown Post of the American Legion led the parade holding flags, shown at top left, while members of Green AARP rode on a festive float at the parade, shown above.
“We were thankful the weather cooperated and brought out all the families to view the parade,” said Kim Goodhart, special events program coordinator for the Green Parks and Recreation Division. “We all want to remember our fellow Americans.”
After the parade, Mayor Dan Crogan honored two Green veterans — John Collett and James Elmer Ryan — at a service at Green Community Center. Joe Sheehan, a former Green councilman who will soon be deployed to Iraq, was also honored at the service.
The Cadette-Ette show choir from Chapel Hill Christian School performed at the service, and 149 cars were displayed at the car show following the service.
In Lakemore, an early morning Memorial Day ceremony at Hillside Cemetery honored Lakemore veterans who served their country in the armed forces with pride and passion. Lakemore Council President Pat Fiocca, captain of the Honor Guard and a member of the Army/Navy Union, was present to help conduct the memorials, which began at 9 a.m.
The graveside ceremony recognized two Lakemore veterans.
Pictured at top center, participants pay their respect to Maynard Lazar during a service led by members of the VFW.
Ron Ruthenberg, shown above, of the VFW 8975, pays tribute to Lazar with a salute after speaking during the ceremony.
John Baker also was honored, and his ceremony was conducted by the Lakemore Army/Navy Garrison 273. Jim Richards, a Lakemore resident and commander with the Army/Navy Union, shown at center, places flowers by Baker’s gravesite during the memorial.
An honor guard and 21-gun salute also were involved in the service. Fiocca, shown above left, second on the left, stands at attention as he leads Honor Guard group members in the salute.
Other veterans were recognized during the day as red-white-and-blue ribbons were placed on poles along the route of the community’s parade, which took place later that day, for each veteran who sacrificed their life in defending the country.
— By Joyce Rainey
Long and Mike D’Agruma
Photos: Krista Galloway
|
