By James Massara
CCN News Director

BUCYRUS — Multiple local communities are set to have a variety of Memorial Day activities available for residents to honor veterans on the national holiday.

In Bucyrus, a parade will step off from Washington Square at 9:30 a.m. and make its way to Oakwood Cemetery for a ceremony at 10 a.m. at the Lemert Memorial. If the ground becomes too wet, the ceremony will take place at the columbarium at the northeast corner of the cemetery.

In the event of rain, the parade will be canceled and the program will be relocated to Bucyrus Elementary.

The parade marshal for the event is Dr. Donald Wenner. Dr. Wenner is a WWII Army veteran having served in the Medical Corps, before transferring to the Navy where he served until he was put on inactive duty and returned to civilian life.

In 1952, he was called back to service during the Korean War and was ordered to duty aboard the U.S.S Windom Bay CVE92 to serve as the ship’s physician. His tour lasted until 1954 when he returned to Bucyrus.

He and his late wife Peg raised four children and he cared for his patients until his retirement in 1990. He has served on the Bucyrus City School Board, Board of Council on Aging, Crawford County Chapter OGS Inc., Crawford–Marion ADAMH Board, Volunteer Taxpayer Assistance, Crawford County Mentoring Program, The Ohio Genealogical Society and YMCA Board of Directors and is a member of the Kiwanis Club.

Dr. Wenner was inducted into the Crawford County Veterans Hall of Fame on Nov. 11, 2014.

This year’s master of ceremonies is David J. Robertson. Robertson served as an air craft mechanic in the Air Force from 1968-71. Having been stationed at Warner Robins AFB Georgia, Da Nang AB Vietnam and Beal AFB California, David was discharged at the rank of sergeant.

David served the City of Bucyrus as a police officer for 23 years, retiring in 1996 and then worked in the office at Zeigler’s Electrical Service until 2016. He is a life member of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, AMVETS and the Disabled American Veterans. He is a Past Commander of American Legion Post No. 181 and has served as the post adjutant for the past 27 years. He was chosen as the 2016-17 Legionnaire of the Year by the Department of Ohio. He serves on the Veterans Memorial Society and has been the finance officer for 28 years.

David and his wife Beverly, also known as “Brandy,” have two daughters, Carrie and Amber.

The keynote speaker for the ceremonies is Dennis Teynor. Teynor was born to John and Marge Teynor and grew up outside of New Washington and graduated from Buckeye Central High School in 1965. He has spent his career in the construction business and for the last thirty-six years has operated Teynor Builders along with his brother Mark.

Teynor is a life member of Colonel Crawford Post No. 181 of the American Legion, having earned his eligibility by serving in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam conflict. He has served as Post No. 181 Commander three times, County and Division Commander, and served as Fifth District Commander for the 2008-09 Legion year. This past year Denny was selected as the “American Legion Fifth District Legionnaire of the Year.” For the past fourteen years he has served the District as Americanism Chairman and in 2006 was appointed Department of Ohio Americanism Chairman for the year. He is presently on the Department of Ohio Legislative committee and is on the National Membership and Post Activities Committee.

He resides in Bucyrus with his wife of 48 years, Alice. They have four adult children, 12 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, all of whom are part of the American Legion family.

During the service, pastor Mike Corwin from the Bucyrus United Methodist Church will give a benediction and invocation. Prior to entering the ministry, Corwin was a police officer for the City of Bucyrus, retiring as the city’s sixth chief.

Also, performing is the Bucyrus High School Marching Band which will play the National Anthem. General John A. Logan’s General Order No. 11, which designated May 30 as the day to remember our nation’s war dead, will be read by Bucyrus High School senior Kade Slagle. Fellow BHS senior Samantha Murtiff will recite the Gettysburg Address.

The Bucyrus Middle School Marching Band will play The Battle Hymn of the Republic. The Salute to the Dead will be presented by the Honor Guard from Colonel Crawford American Legion Post No. 181, followed by the playing of taps by Bucyrus High School senior Austin Edgington and the echo by BHS junior Arli Hinkle

The program will be broadcasted live on the radio on 1540 AM and 107.5 FM WBCO.

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 available to drive those in need. Members of Moose Lodge No. 669 will serve as drivers. Parade officials also would like to see area Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops participate in the parade. Those interested should meet at Washington Square at 9 a.m.

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 per 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.

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.

Other area events include a parade in Galion at 10 a.m. through Uptowne Galion that concludes at Fairview Cemetery and a service in New Washington at Buckeye Central High School at 10 a.m.