MOUNT VERNON — Communities throughout Knox County will honor those men and women who lost their lives serving the United States of America. Memorial Day ceremonies are scheduled for the following communities:
•A parade will form at the Brandon park and march to the Methodist Church on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. A short ceremony will take place in the cemetery following by a program inside the church.
•The American Legion will host a Memorial Day event in Utica on Monday.
The event will begin at 11 a.m. at the Legion home, 10 S. Washington St. There will be a band, refreshments, a firing squad and a featured speaker.
•Centerburg American Legion Post 460 will hold Memorial Day services on Monday.
The parade will begin at 10:45 a.m. with services at Eastview Cemetery beginning at 11. Those veterans wishing to march should meet at the post office no later than 10:30 a.m. Those veterans wishing to participate but cannot march should meet at the cemetery.
This year’s guest speaker will be Steve Masowick, first vice commander of the American Legion, Department of Ohio.
•Memorial Day observance at Fredericktown will be Monday sponsored by the American Legion Post 500 of Fredericktown. Robert Vernon is post commander.
The schedule of events is as follows: 9:30 a.m., assembly at public square; 9:45 a.m., flag raising by the Boy Scouts; invocation by Pastor Whitt Akers of the First Southern Baptist Church; laying of a wreath by Mayor Alan Kintner; 10 a.m., parade to Forrest Cemetery and a selection by senior and junior high school bands
There will be remarks by Master of Ceremony Robert Vernon, followed by the Memorial Day address by Richard Brenneman. Brenneman is a U.S. Air Force veteran, having served from 1972-1976. A 1971 graduate of Fredericktown High School, he has a Bachelor of Science degree from The Ohio State University and a master’s degree from Bowling Green State University. He retired from the Knox County Sheriff’s Office as captain, with over 27 years of law enforcement.
The observance will conclude with presentation of wreaths, the benediction, a salute to fallen heroes and “Taps.”
•The city of Mount Vernon will honor Memorial Day with a parade beginning at 10:30 a.m. that will travel west on East High Street, from Catherine Street, to Public Square.
Traditional Decoration Day ceremonies will be Monday at Mound View Cemetery approximately 15 minutes after the Mount Vernon Memorial Day Parade and ceremonies.
World War II veterans are encouraged to meet at the VFW on Chestnut Street at 9:45 a.m., to ride in the parade.
“Dude” Conway, a WWII veteran and former City Council member, will serve as honorary marshal.
•Parade will form Monday at the square and march to the Danville Memorial Park at 10 a.m. A service will follow in the park with Tom Orr, retired Methodist minister as guest speaker.
•Bloomfield Cemetery will be honoring veterans on Monday at 1 p.m. The cemetery is located at 791 County Road 204.
Cemetery trustee Richard Sears will be there to introduce the speaker, Commander John Sachleben. Commander Sachleben oversees the Navel Junior ROTC program at Highland High School.
Highland’s Marching Band, under the direction of Eileen Ruffing, will be performing. The Junior ROTC Color Guard and Marengo American Legion Post 710 will perform the flag ceremony. In addition, Pastor Jeff Deel from Glory Baptist Church will give the invocation and benediction.
