Week of events culminates with parade

This year will mark the 148th Ironton-Lawrence County Memorial Day Parade, thus allowing the community to keep its title of having the longest continually held Memorial Day Parade in the nation.

Every year since Maj. Gen. John A. Logan declared an official day to recognize those who died on the battlefield, Lawrence County’s residents have done precisely that.

This year’s celebration began on Friday with members of the parade committee placing 60 flags along the bridge into Woodland Cemetery. Flags would also be placed on each veteran’s grave in the Soldiers Plot at the cemetery.

On Tuesday, the parade committee will have its annual Past Grand Marshals Dinner at the Knights of Columbus. This year’s grand marshal is Julia Jones. Parade commander will be Herb Brown.

Honorary grand marshal will be Paul Salyer. Salyer is a U.S. Navy veteran who served during World War II in the Atlantic and Pacific theaters.

On Thursday, the parade committee will continue its tradition on honoring the water-related branches of the military at the Navy Night Memorial Service.

The service begins at 7 p.m. at the Center Street Boat Landing.

Common Pleas Judge Charles Cooper will be the master of ceremonies. Ironton Boy Scout Troop 106 will perform a flag folding ceremony and the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office Marine Patrol and Marathon Marine Transportation will join in the placement of the memorial wreath into the Ohio River.

The Ohio University Southern Community Band will also perform.

Speaker for the service will be Lt. Commander Lisa Knowles, who is stationed at the Naval Operational Support Center in Eleanor, West Virginia.

On Friday, the Ohio Flags of Honor will come to town, escorted by the Blue Knights Kentucky VIII law enforcement motorcycle club. Opening ceremony will be at 6 p.m. at the Ironton Hills Plaza. Volunteers are asked to help with the placement of the flags when the names of the fallen soldiers are called. The display will be up until after the Memorial Day parade.

At 2 p.m. on Sunday, the Veterans Memorial Service will take place at the Soldiers Plot at Woodland Cemetery. Memorial wreaths will be placed by local veterans organizations. Speaker for the service will be Rodney McFarland.

The week’s events culminate with the parade, which kicks off at 10 a.m. in downtown Ironton.

As always, The Tribune will publish its special Memorial Day section on Sunday, which will include a parade lineup, photos and feature stories.