Press release

Memorial Day will be observed on Monday, May 29, 2017. 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. at the Lemert Memorial. However, if the ground is too wet, 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.

Boyd Long will be remembered this year by being named the Posthumous Parade Marshal. Boyd was a Veteran of the US Navy Submarine Service, serving during Korea and Vietnam. Boyd served as Master of Ceremonies for many years. He also served several years as President of the Veterans’ Memorial Society.

This year’s Master of Ceremonies will be Robert “Bob” Laipply, Jr. Bob is an Army Veteran of Vietnam serving from 1968-1970 while stationed at Fort Clayton’s Corozal Area, in the US Panama Canal Zone. An Airborne Infantryman, Bob’s assigned duties were as a Military Policeman serving Tropical Test Site and staffing Security Patrols for the Southern Command Headquarters. Bob achieved the rank of Sergeant E-5 before being honorably discharged from Activity Duty in May of 1970. He is a retired teacher from the Bucyrus School system. Bob and his wife Sandy (McGraw) both graduated from Bucyrus High School as did their three children, Jason, Jennifer and Judson. They have three grown grandchildren, Beth and Carly Graham and Ryan Hawkins.

This year’s keynote speaker is Master Sergeant Travis Leonhardt. Master Sergeant Leonhardt is a 1997 graduate of Colonel Crawford High School. He is the son of Dwight and Carol Leonhardt and Mary Jo and Bob Carle. Master Sergeant Leonhardt has served as Squad Leader, Scout Team Leader, Sniper Section Leader, Rifle Platoon Sergeant, Scout Platoon Sergeant, Assault Team Sergeant, Rifle Company First Sergeant and Headquarters and Headquarters First Sergeant and most recently the Senior Military Instructor for the John Carroll Army ROTC. He has attended several military leadership classes and soon will be attending the United States Army Sergeant Majors Academy. Master Sergeant Leonhardt has had operational deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, and several other countries. His awards and decorations include: Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korea Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Army Overseas Ribbon, NATO Ribbon, Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, Parachutist Badge, Pathfinder Badge and Air Assault Badge. Master Sergeant Leonhardt and his wife April have two daughters Madilyn Ann and Kali Rose.

Harold Eugene “Gene” Luidhardt, S.A.M. Visitation Pastor for Good Hope Lutheran Church Bucyrus and serving as pulpit supply for area churches, will give the Invocation and Benediction. Gene is a graduate of the former Sulphur Springs High School and a 1968 graduate of The Ohio State University. Upon graduation he was commissioned as a Second

Lieutenant in the U.S. Army and attended training for assignment with the Quartermaster Corp at Fort Lee, Virginia. He was promoted to First Lieutenant while serving as a Supply Point Officer in Korea. He returned to United States and served with Special Processing Battalion at Fort Dix, New Jersey and was honorably discharged. Nearly 20 years ago he entered training to become a Synodically Authorized Minister. Upon completion, he served 4 churches in the area as an Interim Minister until the congregation placed a call to a pastor.

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 Mason Kent. Fellow BHS Senior Baylee Wilson will recite President Abraham Lincoln’s 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 181, followed by the playing of Taps by Bucyrus High School Senior Kayleigh Seiber, and the Echo by BHS Junior Austin Edgington.

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

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 Scout Troops participate in the parade. Those interested should meet at Washington Square at 9:00 AM.

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.