Communities set Memorial Day events

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

A number of special Memorial Day services are being held across Van Wert County.

In the city of Van Wert, Memorial Day services will be held in Woodland Cemetery, with the color guard at 10:45 a.m., and the service starting at 11 Monday morning.

Guest speaker will be Dave Schutter, a veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom. Wreaths will be laid at the memorial in Woodland Cemetery, followed by the Salute to the Dead and the playing of “Taps.”

Lunch will be served at Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5803, 111 N. Shannon St., following the service.

In Ohio City, Harvey Lewis Post 346 of the American Legion will hold a Memorial Day service at 10:30 a.m. in Veterans Memorial Park at Woodlawn Cemetery. Music will be provided by the Van Wert Area Community Concert Band while retired United States Air Force Major Roger K. Smith will be guest speaker. In case of inclement weather, the service will beheld in the Legion Post, 306 Lambert St. in Ohio City.

Soup and sandwiches will be served after the service in the Legion Post-Community Park Building.

In Convoy, a Memorial Day Parade will begin at 9:30 Monday morning. Anyone who wants to participate may do so. Memorial Day services will then be held at Convoy United Methodist Church at 10 that morning, and then at IOOF Cemetery right after the church service.

The Delphos Veterans Council will have its annual Memorial Day service, starting at 11 a.m. Monday at Veterans Memorial Park, corner of Fifth and Main streets. A parade will begin at 10:45 a.m. and run from the Delphos Fire and Rescue Building west on Main Street and then north to the park. Guest speakers for the Delphos service will be Mayor Michael Gallmeier, the Rev. Dave Reinhart and Lieutenant Colonel Mathew S. Hodge, commander of Joint Systems Manufacturing Center (tank plant) in Lima. Music will be provided by the Delphos Jefferson Marching Band. Lunch will be served at the Delphos American Legion post following the service.

In Willshire, Memorial Day services start at 7 a.m. with a pancake and sausage breakfast hosted by the Willshire Community Civic Association. The breakfast runs until 10:30 Monday morning.

Following the Memorial Day parade and service at the village cemetery, a dedication ceremony will be held in honor and remembrance of three men who were killed while serving in the Vietnam War. A permanent statue will be placed at the cemetery to honor Cary Fosnaugh, Bill Miller and Benny Sapp.

Also on display at Willshire Home Furnishings over the Memorial Day weekend will be photos, artifacts and uniforms from past and present military servicemen. Area residents are urged to stop by and view the items as part of the village’s remembrance of its military veterans and the sacrifices they have made for this nation’s freedom.