Honoring the fallen

FINDLAY — Memorial Day is coming Monday, and Findlay and Hancock County and area villages have scheduled parades and services to honor fallen veterans. Some of the local events follow below. Findlay-Hancock County FINDLAY — The Hancock County Veteran's Council will conduct its annual Memorial Day parade and services on Monday. At 9 a.m. there is a memorial bridge ceremony on the Main Street Bridge before the parade which begins promptly at 10 a.m. in front of the American Legion, 120 W. Front St. Participants in the parade are asked to The parade will turn south onto Main Street and then west onto West Main Cross Street before turning into Maple Grove Cemetery. The parade ends at the cemetery with a short ceremony at the War Memorial. Ada ADA — Memorial Day services will be held at Woodlawn Cemetery, 5134 Ohio 235, at 1 p.m. Monday. This event is co-sponsored by Ream McElroy Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #9381 and Foss-Agin-Meyer American Legion Post #185. Particpating in the ceremony are the VFW Color Guard; Ada High School Band directed by Benjamin Hemming; reading by Callie Burgess, American Legion Buckeye Girls State Representative; guest speaker CSM (Retired) Allen Conley; and TAPS player Justin Bowden. Following the event, there will be a short service at Preston Cemetery, 3131 County Road 90, Alger. Bluffton BLUFFTON — Bluffton American Legion Post #382 has announced its 2026 Memorial Day parade. The parade forms at 9:15 a.m. Monday at the Bluffton Town Hall, 154 N. Main St., and moves out at 9:30 a.m. The service at Maple Grove Cemetery will begin at 10 a.m. Those who wish to be in the parade are asked to refrain from throwing candy to the crowd. Citizens are also asked to remove their hats as the American Flag passes. After the ceremony, the Bluffton American Legion Post 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. Tickets are $10. In case of bad weather, the ceremony will be held at the Bluffton Middle School, 116 S. Jackson St. Kenton KENTON — The 180th Fighter Wing of the Ohio National Guard has confirmed that F-16 Fighter Falcons will do a flyover event over the Hardin County Courthouse at approximately 10:05 a.m. Monday during Kenton's Memorial Day parade. This is being done as a patriotic salute to the veterans of the county and the community. G.A.R., Grand Army of the Republic Veterans, Cantwell Post #97, Kenton, will also be in attendance with Civil War reenactors. The parade begins at the Mary Lou Johnson District Library, 325 E. Columbus St., proceeds west on Columbus Street and then turns left on Main Street, left on Franklin Street and then left again at Jacob Parrott Boulevard before ending at the TSC parking lot. Immediately following the parade, Charlie Bonnet III Acoustic Duo will kick off the first of the Kenton Historic Courthouse District Summer Concert Series. The Hardin Veterans' Service Commission (VSC) will host the Memorial Day ceremony at GAR Circle in Grove Cemetery, 15443 Ohio 309. The ceremony begins at 11 a.m. Monday, following the parade. Participating in this year's ceremony are members of the Kenton High School band; bagpiper Jadon Holbrook; JROTC Cadets; VSC Honor Guard; Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War representative Ronald Marvin; wreath presenter: Korea War Veteran Robert Hites; the Rev. Randall Forester; and special guest speaker Ohio State Rep. Ty Mathews The public is welcome to attend. McComb McCOMB — The McComb Memorial Day parade will be held at 10 a.m. Monday. The parade begins at Morrison-Moorhead VFW Post #9231, 204 E. Main St., and proceeds to McComb Union Cemetery, 606-614 W. Main St., for the Memorial Day service. Capt. Ryan Coomler of McComb will be the featured speaker. He is the son of Col. James Coomler and Renee (Brickman) Coomler. A 2007 McComb High School graduate, he also graduated from Ohio University in 2011 as a Distinguished Military Graduate. After college, Coomler was commissioned as an infantry officer in the U.S. Army serving from 2011-21. He has served in multiple infantry units and has been stationed at Fort Benning, Georgia; Hohenfels, Germany; Fort Campbell, Kentucky; and Fort Polk, Louisiana. Coomler was deployed to Iraq twice in support of operations against ISIS. He is Airborne, Air Assault and Ranger qualified. His highest award is the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service in Iraq as the Brigade Chief of Plans. In case of rain the service will be held at McComb Local School. North Baltimore NORTH BALTIMORE — North Baltimore's annual Memorial Day observance is scheduled Monday with local veterans organizations leading a morning parade and memorial services throughout the community. The Memorial Day parade will begin at 9 a.m. at the North Baltimore Fire Hall, 201 N. Main St. The parade route will travel south on Main Street through the roundabout, across the Rocky Ford bridge for the traditional wreath ceremony, and then east to Maplewood Cemetery. Additional stops are also planned at New Maplewood Cemetery, Weaver Cemetery in Bloom Township, Briar Hill Health Campus and American Legion Post #539 Memorial. Community members are encouraged to attend. Following the ceremonies, parade participants are invited to a potluck gathering in the American Legion banquet room. Attendees are asked to bring a hot or cold dish along with a dessert to share. Ottawa OTTAWA — A Memorial Day parade will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday in Ottawa with a service in front of the Putnam County Courthouse, 245 E. Main St. Van Buren VAN BUREN — The Van Buren Lions Club is hosting Memorial Day services at the Veteran's Memorial in the Van Buren Village Square at 10 a.m. Monday. The main speaker will be Andy Sterling. A retired Sergeant First Class in the U.S. Army Reserve, he served honorably for more than 21 years as a combat engineer and intelligence analyst. During four combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, Sterling led soldiers in some of the most demanding operational environments and was awarded the Purple Heart, two Meritorious Service Medals, four Army Commendation Medals and four Army Achievement Medals. Music will be provided by the Van Buren High School Band. In case of inclement weather, the service will be moved to the Van Buren High School auditorium. Additionally, the Van Buren Lions Club has placed flags on all the veteran's graves at Bethel Cemetery. If a veteran's grave has been overlooked, contact Rex Rinker at 419-889-8797.