In 1918, at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, World War I ended.
It was a day of great relief for a war weary nation. When news of the signing of the armistice reached Groveport, someone entered the old school house that once sat on College Street, near what is now Naomi Court, and began ringing the school bell in jubilation. Neighbors, curious by the ringing, came outside and word spread that the war had ended. Soon all the village’s church bells joined in the ringing chorus. A crowd informally gathered in downtown Groveport. No one made a speech and no bands played, it was just people gathering together, happily talking, with occasional shouts of joy punctuating the air.
In the years following the war, Nov. 11 became established as Armistice Day, a day set aside to honor the nation’s military veterans. By 1954 President Dwight Eisenhower signed a bill proclaiming Nov. 11 as Veterans Day
Continuing that time honored tradition the village of Groveport will host a Veterans Day ceremony on Nov. 11 at 4 p.m. in Veterans Park on Main Street. Guest speaker will be 1st Lt. Michael J. Pohorilla, U.S. Army Air Corps (retired), navigator, 8th Air Force 385th Bomb Group WWII.
Other speakers will include Groveport Mayor Lance Westcamp, Motts Military Museum Director Warren Motts, and Chaplain (LTC) Edward Gard of the U.S. Air Force (1955-75). Vocalist Udo Maroscher, and his wife Jan, will provide the music.
The Harold R. Ray Memorial VFW Post 10523 will raise the flag, the Groveport Police Department will offer a 21 gun salute, and representatives of the 121st Air Refueling Wing from Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base will perform "Taps."
Veterans who will be honored this year with memorial bricks placed in the Veterans Park plaza will be: Donald J. Crotty, John A. Keeney, Stephen Riley, W. G. "Budd" Drury, Willie Mayo, James Ruetsch, and Raymond Ruetsch.
Commemorative bricks to honor military veterans can be ordered for next year by contacting the Groveport Municipal Building at (614) 836-5301.
