Large crowd celebrates Memorial Day in Coshocton
COSHOCTON – Both sides of Main Street in Coshocton were lined with people on Monday, May 28 for the annual Memorial Day Parade. The crowd was on its feet and clapping loudly as the American Flag made its way through the parade route.
Entries in the parade included veterans’ groups, scouts, local and visiting queens and many emergency response vehicles. Eager children kept a close eye on which group may be throwing candy and darted into the street to collect as much as possible. People on the sidewalk waved small flags as they watched the parade.
The ceremony on the court square started soon after the end of the parade. Zac Miller, assistant county veterans’ service officer, welcomed everyone and invited them to stand for an invocation, the National Anthem (played by the Coshocton High School band) and the Pledge of Allegiance. Representatives from all county veterans’ organizations were recognized before a very important presentation.
Tom Mitchell, Ohio Chapter Director of Honor and Remember, presented an Honor and Remember flag to the parents of Raymond Border. He explained the colors of the flag: The red is for the blood and sacrifice, the white is the purity of the sacrifice, the blue star is from the blue star banners that were flown in WWI as a symbol of a family having a member fighting, the gold star shows the family suffered a loss and the flame represents the lost life, but the memory will live on.
Mitchell said he was “honored to present Ray’s parents with his personalized Honor and Remember flag.” When presented, the flag was folded as one presented to the family after they lost a loved one and given from “a grateful country.”
Skylar Stewart read her winning Voice of Democracy essay asking her generation to stand for the American Flag and for the National Anthem. Her essay stated when she hears the last line of the anthem it really speaks volumes to her. “I stand for the anthem in honor of those who fought so I would have freedom.” She also said that the flag and anthem do not support racism or hate crimes – that it should not divide people but unite them.
As the list of veterans the county has lost in the last year was read, a bell was rang, a balloon released and a flag placed on the court square in their memory. Fred Babcock, assisted by Tom Unger, placed the Memorial Wreath. Coshocton County Honor Guard presented a salute to fallen comrades. Bladen Johnson and Tyler Huston, both from Coshocton High School, played “Taps.”
Category: People & Places
