This year marks the sesquicentennial of the Ironton Memorial Day Parade.

Ironton held its first parade in 1868 to memorialize the Civil War dead. The tradition continued, and over the decades, the parade became a way to honor all those who have served our country.

Lou Pyles, the parade organizer, was asked when they start getting ready for the next parade.

“As soon as this one ends,” she replied. “We don’t just work on it five months of the year. It takes a lot of work to put it together. But we do it to honor all the veterans. Without them, we would not have the freedom we have, we would not be having this parade on our downtown streets.”

The 40 members of the Ironton Memorial Day Parade Committee have much to organize.

There is the Past Grand Marshals Dinner. Volunteers place 60 flags along the bridge into Woodland Cemetery and small flags on every veteran’s grave. There is the Navy Night Memorial Service. There is Veterans Memorial Service at the cemetery. Hundreds of flags need placed at the Ironton Hills Plaza for the Ohio Flag of Honor display.

This year, the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall will be here.

But the big show is always the parade. Dozens of  floats, veterans, and military organizations will make their way through downtown Ironton for two hours.

The parade committee spends much of the year planning and raising funds for this fine tradition. Pyles is asking everyone along the parade route to put up flags and make the town look nice.

We think that everyone should strongly support the 150th year of the Ironton Memorial Parade, whether it is with donations of money or skills or just some time. Help is always needed to put on this grand event and it is great way to honor those men and women who have done so much for America.