SgtHopperUSMC
05-25-08, 06:18 AM
By Teresa Moore/The Ironton Tribune
Saturday, May 24, 2008 11:49 PM EDT
It is, without question, the single largest gathering of Lawrence Countians in one place all year long.
Some communities celebrate Christmas with a bang, others have a parade on St. Patrick’s Day or New Year’s Day. But Lawrence Countians have taken Memorial Day to its collective heart, and have observed the day with a series of solemn memorial services and a grand, three-hour long parade.
Rain or shine, regardless of the circumstances, the Ironton-Lawrence County Memorial Day Parade has marched on for 140 years. Monday, the tradition continues. Anywhere from 10,000-25,000 people will line the parade route. Countless others will watch it later on television.
The meaning
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For veterans, this day is less of a party and more of a chance to reflect on their own experiences and the people who were once their brothers and sisters in arms.
They know that some of those fellow soldiers and sailors and marines came home safely from the tours of duty, but others did not.
Through more than two centuries, there have been people who loved their country enough to fight for it and die for it. Memorial Day was originally meant to honor the fallen soldiers of the Civil War. It has become a day to honor all of those who have served in all wars in which Americans fought and died.
“This is to honor and remember all of the ones who gave their lives for freedom,” AmVets 5293 Commander Carroll Stamper said.
Miles Lewis understands the meaning of Memorial Day. The Vietnam veteran served in the U.S. Army from 1971 to 1972. His service took him to Vietnam.
He said this day is about “caring for our veterans,” both those who have served in the past and those who are coming home now and in the future from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Curtis Faulkner was in the U.S. Army from 1972-1975, stationed in Germany. He said he is pleased this community has chosen to honor veterans in such a public way over the years with a parade.
“We appreciate the outcoming of the people and their support,” he said. “It is wonderful this has continued so many years. And it seems to get bigger and bigger every year.”
The procession
The parade will begin at 10 a.m. The procession begins at Center and Sixth streets, follows Center Street to Third Street; turns south on Third and follows Third Street to Quincy Street, turns left on Quincy Street and follows Quincy Street to Sixth Street and returns to the area of the courthouse.
There are 12 divisions to the parade and more than 2,000 will actually march in it.
The flyover
The U.S. Air Force National Guard of Springfield, is scheduled to send two F-16s to the parade. This is the same military entity that has provided a flyover in previous years and unless Uncle Sam needs those planes, they will make an appearance at the start of the parade again this year.
“It all depends on the weather, the alert status (of the planes) and just a number of different things,” parade committee member Brent Pyles said. “We have received all military clearances, flight clearances. Now it’s a matter of equipment availability.”
Broadcast dates
The parade will be broadcast on Channel 25 for Time Warner Cable Co., subscribers.
Ohio University Southern Electronic Media Instructor Dave Surgalski said those who can’t attend the parade but want to watch it on television should stay tuned to that channel. The parade will be shown as soon as the tape is edited and ready.
The volunteers
There are a number of volunteers who make the parade possible each year. The roughly 50 members of the parade committee begin meeting in January to organize the divisions, the entrants, the preceding Navy Night service and Woodland Cemetery Service, and other aspects of the event. By spring, those monthly meetings become bi-monthly and then weekly.
The day of the parade, members of the Lawrence County Amateur Radio Association will provide communications for and between parade committee members. Members of area boy scout troops pass out flags along the parade route. Countless other volunteers will also have a part.
The floats
The parade will boast a dozen or more floats, and most of not all of them will have an individual theme that dovetails with the parade theme. Several area churches will have a float in the parade, as will some area businesses and military service organizations.
Members of the AmVets 5293 of Ironton spent a large part of Saturday assembling their Iwo Jima float.
“We’ve been gathering things for three weeks,” said Janet Stamper. “It just came to us what we wanted to do. Iwo Jima was really the start of everything.”
The float will feature actual veterans depicting the famous and historic raising of the flag.
This year’s AmVets float will be in memory of the late Michael Wagner, who was a member of that post, and the late George Patterson, a veteran and a long-time Lawrence County commissioner.
Stamper pointed out that while many people may consider Memorial Day just an extra day off work, to those who served and to their families, this day is not just another fun holiday.
“A lot of people go for just the parties and cookouts but really, this day is about the veterans.
“I think some people don’t realize that without our veterans, none of us would be here,” Betty Malone said.
( Just had to plug the parade. )
Ironton held its first parade in 1868, the same year the Grand Army of the Republic established May 30 as a day of remembering fallen comrades.
Saturday, May 24, 2008 11:49 PM EDT
It is, without question, the single largest gathering of Lawrence Countians in one place all year long.
Some communities celebrate Christmas with a bang, others have a parade on St. Patrick’s Day or New Year’s Day. But Lawrence Countians have taken Memorial Day to its collective heart, and have observed the day with a series of solemn memorial services and a grand, three-hour long parade.
Rain or shine, regardless of the circumstances, the Ironton-Lawrence County Memorial Day Parade has marched on for 140 years. Monday, the tradition continues. Anywhere from 10,000-25,000 people will line the parade route. Countless others will watch it later on television.
The meaning
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For veterans, this day is less of a party and more of a chance to reflect on their own experiences and the people who were once their brothers and sisters in arms.
They know that some of those fellow soldiers and sailors and marines came home safely from the tours of duty, but others did not.
Through more than two centuries, there have been people who loved their country enough to fight for it and die for it. Memorial Day was originally meant to honor the fallen soldiers of the Civil War. It has become a day to honor all of those who have served in all wars in which Americans fought and died.
“This is to honor and remember all of the ones who gave their lives for freedom,” AmVets 5293 Commander Carroll Stamper said.
Miles Lewis understands the meaning of Memorial Day. The Vietnam veteran served in the U.S. Army from 1971 to 1972. His service took him to Vietnam.
He said this day is about “caring for our veterans,” both those who have served in the past and those who are coming home now and in the future from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Curtis Faulkner was in the U.S. Army from 1972-1975, stationed in Germany. He said he is pleased this community has chosen to honor veterans in such a public way over the years with a parade.
“We appreciate the outcoming of the people and their support,” he said. “It is wonderful this has continued so many years. And it seems to get bigger and bigger every year.”
The procession
The parade will begin at 10 a.m. The procession begins at Center and Sixth streets, follows Center Street to Third Street; turns south on Third and follows Third Street to Quincy Street, turns left on Quincy Street and follows Quincy Street to Sixth Street and returns to the area of the courthouse.
There are 12 divisions to the parade and more than 2,000 will actually march in it.
The flyover
The U.S. Air Force National Guard of Springfield, is scheduled to send two F-16s to the parade. This is the same military entity that has provided a flyover in previous years and unless Uncle Sam needs those planes, they will make an appearance at the start of the parade again this year.
“It all depends on the weather, the alert status (of the planes) and just a number of different things,” parade committee member Brent Pyles said. “We have received all military clearances, flight clearances. Now it’s a matter of equipment availability.”
Broadcast dates
The parade will be broadcast on Channel 25 for Time Warner Cable Co., subscribers.
Ohio University Southern Electronic Media Instructor Dave Surgalski said those who can’t attend the parade but want to watch it on television should stay tuned to that channel. The parade will be shown as soon as the tape is edited and ready.
The volunteers
There are a number of volunteers who make the parade possible each year. The roughly 50 members of the parade committee begin meeting in January to organize the divisions, the entrants, the preceding Navy Night service and Woodland Cemetery Service, and other aspects of the event. By spring, those monthly meetings become bi-monthly and then weekly.
The day of the parade, members of the Lawrence County Amateur Radio Association will provide communications for and between parade committee members. Members of area boy scout troops pass out flags along the parade route. Countless other volunteers will also have a part.
The floats
The parade will boast a dozen or more floats, and most of not all of them will have an individual theme that dovetails with the parade theme. Several area churches will have a float in the parade, as will some area businesses and military service organizations.
Members of the AmVets 5293 of Ironton spent a large part of Saturday assembling their Iwo Jima float.
“We’ve been gathering things for three weeks,” said Janet Stamper. “It just came to us what we wanted to do. Iwo Jima was really the start of everything.”
The float will feature actual veterans depicting the famous and historic raising of the flag.
This year’s AmVets float will be in memory of the late Michael Wagner, who was a member of that post, and the late George Patterson, a veteran and a long-time Lawrence County commissioner.
Stamper pointed out that while many people may consider Memorial Day just an extra day off work, to those who served and to their families, this day is not just another fun holiday.
“A lot of people go for just the parties and cookouts but really, this day is about the veterans.
“I think some people don’t realize that without our veterans, none of us would be here,” Betty Malone said.
( Just had to plug the parade. )
Ironton held its first parade in 1868, the same year the Grand Army of the Republic established May 30 as a day of remembering fallen comrades.