Make plans to honor vets on Memorial Day

FINDLAY — Memorial Day is coming up Monday, and Findlay and Hancock County villages have scheduled parades and services to honor fallen veterans. Some of the local events follow below. Findlay-Hancock County The Hancock County Veteran's Council will conduct its annual Memorial Day Parade and Services on Monday. The annual bridge ceremony prior to the parade will begin line up at 8:30 a.m. in front of the American Legion, 120 W. Front St., Findlay. The parade line up will then begin at 9:30 a.m. in front of the Legion. The parade will step off at 10 a.m. sharp. The parade will proceed from West Front Street, south onto South Main Street and then west onto West Main Cross Street all the way into Maple Grove Cemetery where services will be held honoring veterans before the parade disbands. Contact Hancock County Veteran's Council President William Johns at 419-721-7275 or findlaybj@gmail.com. Van Buren The Van Buren Lions Club will hold Memorial Day services at the Veteran's Memorial in the Van Buren Village Square at 10 a.m. Monday. The main speaker will be 83rd District state Rep. Ty Matthews, who served as a U.S. Army Infantry Officer. Music will be provided by the Van Buren High School Band. McComb The McComb Memorial Day parade will step off at 10 a.m. in front of the Morrison-Moorhead VFW, 204 E. Main St., and proceed to the McComb Union Cemetery. A program will follow. This year's speaker is Lorin Sonnenberg-Schwab, surviving spouse of Lt. Col. Kevin "Sonny" Sonnenberg and founder of the Sonny Smiles Foundation. The foundation is a volunteer-based organization dedicated to supporting the military by providing life planning and one-time financial grants to servicemembers. Bluffton Members of Bluffton American Legion Post #382 invite citizens of Bluffton and surrounding communities to join them in remembering those who died for our freedom Monday. The Memorial Day parade will be held Monday. The parade forms at 9:15 a.m. and moves out at 9:30 a.m. A ceremony in Maple Grove Cemetery will begin at 10 a.m. The Legion asks that those who wish to be in the parade refrain from throwing candy to the crowd. Citizens are also reminded to remove their hats as the American flag passes. The ceremony will feature Navy SEAL LCDR Daniel R. Kobza, USN Ret. Kobza was born and raised in Naples, Florida. He attended the United States Naval Academy, graduating in 2007 with a bachelor's degree in ocean engineering. He was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Navy and was immediately assigned to Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL. Following the ceremonies, the Bluffton Legion will hold its annual chicken barbecue in the Citizens National Bank parking lot, 102 S. Main St., from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Meals are $10. Tickets may be purchased from Legion members and at the Bluffton Farmers Market on Saturday. In case of bad weather, the Memorial Day ceremonies will be held in the Bluffton Middle School, 116 S. Jackson St.