BC graduate will speak at Bucyrus Memorial Day services

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Memorial Day will be observed on Monday, May 25, 2015. Weather permitting, the day will begin with a parade forming at Washington Square at 9:00 AM. The parade will step off at 9:30 AM and head toward Oakwood Cemetery, where the program will begin at 10:00 AM. If the ground is not too wet the program will be held at the Lemert Memorial; however if there has been too much rain it will be at the columbarium, located at the north east corner of the cemetery property.

If it is raining Monday morning, the parade will be canceled and the program will be moved to Bucyrus Elementary School, 245 Woodlawn Avenue.

This year’s keynote speaker is Lieutenant Colonel David “Dave” Riedel United States Marine Corps Retired. Lt. Colonel Riedel is a 1976 graduate of Buckeye Central High School. He was their first graduate to earn an appointment to the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD and was inducted into the Buckeye Central Sports Hall of Fame in 2007. Upon graduation from the Naval Academy, Dave was commissioned into the United States Marine Corps as a Second Lieutenant. He then attended Naval Flight Officer School in Pensacola, FL and after receiving his NFO wings of gold, he was selected to fly the RF-4B Phantom, which he piloted for 8 years. Dave then transitioned to the F/A-18D Hornet, which he flew for another 8 years. While stationed in Italy, he flew 60 combat missions over Bosnia in support of OPERATION DENY FLIGHT. During his flying career, he held every NFO flight leadership qualification to include graduation from the Navy’s TOPGUN Fighter Weapons School.

Dave and his wife Lori (Niese), a 1978 graduate of Buckeye Central High School, have been married for 33 years and have 3 children Brent, Bryan and Megan. Dave and Lori soon plan to return to Crawford County as 4th generation owners of the family farm, near New Washington.

This year’s Parade Marshal will be Boyd Long, who will also serve as Master of Ceremonies. Boyd is a Veteran of the US Navy Submarine Service, having served during Korea and Vietnam. He also served many years as the President of the Veterans Memorial Society.

The Assistant Parade Marshals this year are all Active Duty Personnel. Any Veteran who would like to be in the parade is welcome to participate. There will be vehicles, provided by The Car Guys Auto Sales, 1780 E. Mansfield Street, available to drive those in need. Members of Moose Lodge 669 will serve as drivers. We would also like to see area Boy & Girl Scouts Troops participate in the parade. Those interested should meet at Washington Square at 9:00 AM.

Pastor Hans Scherner of St. Paul Lutheran Church (Sulphur Springs) will give the Invocation and Benediction. The Bucyrus High School Marching Band will play the National Anthem. General John A. Logan’s General Order No. 11, designating May 30th as the day to remember our nation’s war dead, will be read by Bucyrus High School senior Sam VanVoorhis. Fellow BHS senior Becca Mutchler will recite President Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address.
The Bucyrus Middle School Marching Band will play the Battle Hymn of the Republic. Salute to the Dead will be presented by the Honor Guard from Colonel Crawford American Legion Post 181, followed by the playing of Taps by Bucyrus High School senior Taylor Bayless and the Echo by BHS sophomore Kayleigh Seiber.

The program will once again be broadcast live over WBCO Radio.

This week members of the Veterans Memorial Society have placed more than 3,500 flags on the graves of Veterans in Bucyrus and surrounding township cemeteries. The Veterans Memorial Society is a group of honorably discharged Veterans from all wars and peace time. They meet three to four times a year to prepare for the Memorial Day Services and place flags on the graves of area Veterans in observance of Memorial Day and Veterans Day.

Remember to fly your flag every day if possible, but especially on holidays. Remember also that the proper way to display the flag on Memorial Day is to fly it at half-staff until noon and then back to full-staff after noon.

American Legion Post 181 located at 123 E. Rensselaer Street will be having a Hog Roast after the Services from 11:00 AM until gone. This meal is free to all honorably discharged and active duty Veterans, though family and friends may join for a freewill donation.