(Posted May 13, 2015)
Memorial Day ceremonies and services for the Madison County area:
London: London’s United Veterans Organization will host Memorial Day services May 24-25. The organization includes Amvets Chapter 19, Disabled American Veterans Chapter 93, American Legion Post 105 and Vietnam Veterans Chapter 746.
On May 24, services are set for 1 p.m. at Paint Township Cemetery, 2:15 p.m. at Deercreek-Lafayette Cemetery, and 3 p.m. at Summerford Cemetery.
On May 25, veterans and members of the London High School band will assemble at 10 a.m. at the entrance of Oak Hill Cemetery. The ceremony will start at 10:15 at the statue.
A second program will take place at 11 a.m. at the veterans monument outside the Madison County Courthouse. Madison County Commissioner Paul Gross will be the guest speaker. Afterward, the group will assemble at Kirkwood Cemetery for the final memorial tribute.
After all of the ceremonies are complete, veterans, their families and guests are invited to an open house at Amvets Hall at Madison Lake. Refreshments will be served.
Mount Sterling: Members of Mount Sterling American Legion Post 417 will place flags on veterans’ graves at Pleasant Cemetery on Cemetery Road at 6 p.m. May 21. The public is invited to help.
A memorial service will take place at 10 a.m. May 25 at the cemetery. A second short service will immediately follow at Mount Sterling First United Methodist Church. Densil Wright of Mount Sterling Freewill Baptist Church will speak.
Plain City: Plain City’s Veterans of Foreign Wars Darby Post 3268 and American Legion Post 248 and the Ladies Auxiliaries will host a Memorial Day parade May 25.
The parade will form at the old Plain City Elementary on West Main Street from 8 to 8:30 a.m. Those who wish to participate in the parade are asked to decorate accordingly and be ready to leave the school promptly at 9 a.m. The route runs east on Main Street then south on Chillicothe Street, stopping at old Darby Township Cemetery to salute veterans there. The parade will then proceed to the bridge crossing over Big Darby Creek, where a ceremonial bouquet will be tossed in the water in memory of those who perished at sea. The route will end at Forest Grove Cemetery where a program will take place.
For more information, contact Bernie Vance at (614) 570-2962.
Range Township: Range Township will hold Memorial Day services at 3:30 p.m. May 24 at Range Township Cemetery. Gerald Baynes, retired captain with the U.S. Navy Reserves, is the guest speaker. The Daughters of the American Revolution will be represented. Readings and vocal performances also are planned.
South Solon: The South Solon Community Organization will hold a Memorial Day parade at 2 p.m. May 25 and will proceed from Community Park to South Solon Cemetery. Joseph Leo Haney will serve as grand marshal. The Springfield Detachment of the Marine Corps League will lead the parade, followed by the Madison-Plains High School marching band led by Director Renee Perkins. A short ceremony will follow the parade at the entrance to the cemetery. Rev. Joey Shannon will speak. The Marines will close the ceremony with a 21-gun salute and the playing of “Taps.”
West Jefferson: West Jefferson American Legion Post 201 will host a breakfast from 7 to 9 a.m. May 25 for veterans, Madison County fire and law enforcement personnel, and West Jefferson village workers. The post is located at 9701 W. Broad St. At noon, a ceremony will take place at Pleasant Hill Cemetery. For more information, call the Legion post at (614) 879-9126.
