Several communities in Summit County are hosting events to honor those who fell while serving in the nation’s armed forces. The events, including parades and ceremonies, are all on Memorial Day, Monday, May 25.
The holiday has been observed on the last Monday of May since 1971, when the Uniform Monday Holiday Act was enacted. Prior to this act, Memorial Day was observed on May 30 of every year.
Bath
Bath will host its 24th Annual Memorial Day Observance Ceremony, starting at noon at Bath Memorial Park, 3840 W. Bath Road.
Retired Brigadier General Tom Luczynski, Ohio Army National Guard, will serve as the guest speaker.
The ceremony will include musical performances by the Revere High School Band and Chorale students, and presentations by Richfield AMVETS Post 176, Scouting of America Troop #385, Girl Scout in Troop 90190, and Bath Township Fire and Police Departments. A selected Revere student will also present an essay on the Declaration of Independence.
Additionally, the ceremony is scheduled to include a US Air Force aircraft flyover. Residents can expect see a C-130H from the 910th Airlift Wing at Youngstown Air Reserve Station just after noon. The 910th Airlift Wing is tasked to maintain the Department of Defense’s only large area fixed-wing aerial spray capability with missions to be executed in combat areas, on military installations, and in response to disasters or emergencies as declared by the President of the United States.
The aircraft flyover will be loud.
Parking will be available in the Bath Township administration building, 3864 West Bath Road, and Bath Elementary School, 1246 N Cleveland Massillon Road. Shuttle service will be available for those in need of assistance.
While some seating will be provided, everyone is encouraged to bring their own chairs.
Following the event, guests are invited to visit the Bath Township Historical Museum, where the new exhibit will be featured: “America 250 … The Bath Township Experience.”
Boston Heights
Boston Heights will have an 8:30 a.m. memorial service at Fairview Cemetery, 45 E. Boston Mills Road, next to the Boston Heights Village Hall.
Copley
Copley will have its annual Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony, with the parade starting at 9 a.m. at the Copley Safety Center, 1260 Sunset Dr. The ceremony will start at Copley Cemetery, 3772 Copley Road, at around 9:15 a.m.
The parade will start at the township’s safety center, go from Sunset Drive, turn west on Copley Road and turn south into Copley Cemetery. Frank LaRose and his family will join Copley Township for this year’s Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony. A Copley native, LaRose is actively serving in the military.
Cuyahoga Falls
The 94th Annual Cuyahoga Falls Memorial Day Parade starts at 9 a.m. at the corner of Portage Trail and Lillis Drive. The parade will proceed east on Portage Trail to Fourth Street, head north on Fourth Street to Oakwood Drive, and conclude at Oakwood Cemetery, 2420 Oakwood Dr., by 10:30 a.m.
A Memorial Day Service will take place in the veterans section of Oakwood Cemetery immediately following the parade, beginning at around 11 a.m.
The area of Portage Crossing will be closed to traffic starting at 7 a.m.
At 9 a.m., the remainder of the parade route will close to traffic, including:
In addition, starting at around 8:40 a.m., local Boy Scouts of America troops will walk along the parade route collecting canned goods and monetary donations to benefit local homeless veteran organizations.
Fairlawn
Fairlawn will host a Memorial Day Remembrance Ceremony, starting at 9 a.m. at the memorial monument, which is at its new location in front of City Hall, 3487 S. Smith Road.
Green
Green will be the site for several events on Memorial Day.
Pancake Breakfast: The annual pancake breakfast takes place prior to the parade and ceremony at Fire Station #1, from 7 to 10 a.m. Donations will be accepted to benefit local non-profits.
Memorial Day Parade: The parade steps off at 10 a.m. from Green High School, 1474 Boettler Road. The tentative parade route travels east on Boettler Road to Massillon Road south (south bound lanes only) to Steese Road west to the Green Intermediate School, back to the Green High School parking lot via Bulldog Boulevard.
Memorial Day Ceremony: There will be a short ceremony beginning at noon at Veterans Park, 1918 Steese Road. Two local veterans will be recognized by Mayor Rocco Yeargin and the Green community.
Parking for the Memorial Day Ceremony is available at the Fire Station #1, 4200 Massillon Road (handicap parking only); John Torok Senior/Community Center, 4224 Massillon Road; Queen of Heaven Church, 1800 Steese Road; and the Anthony Funeral Home, 4178 Massillon Road. Note that Steese Road will be shut down to traffic during the Memorial Day Ceremony.
Community Picnic: The picnic will begin at the John Torok Senior Center immediately following the Memorial Day Ceremony and end at 3 p.m.
Car Show: The annual Memorial Day car show has been relocated this year to the Queen of Heaven parking lot. The show is between 1 and 3 p.m. Participants can register upon arrival.
Hudson
Hudson will have its annual Memorial Day parade, followed by a ceremony at Markillie Cemetery, 410 N. Main St.
Salute fireworks, generously provided by American Fireworks, sound at 9:45 a.m., 9:55 a.m., and 10 a.m. to signal the start of the parade.
The parade steps off from Milford Drive/ Route 303 and travels east toward the First & Main Shopping District, then proceeds north on Route 91, ending at Markillie Cemetery.
The Memorial Day Ceremony is scheduled for at the conclusion of the parade in Markillie Cemetery, at around 11:15 a.m. Retired Col. Patrick Disney is the 2026 Military and Veterans’ Commission Guest of Honor. Also featured will be the Hudson High School Marching Band, and the Military and Veterans Commission.
Lakemore
Lakemore will host a Memorial Day parade starting at 11 a.m. The parade will travel down Sanitorium Road, turn right on Lake Road past Monroe Street, and end at the Lakemore Municipal Building at 1400 Main St. A memorial and re-dedication service will follow the parade at the Memorial Triangle.
Mogadore
Mogadore will have several activities on Memorial Day.
There is a bike decorating contest from 9:30 to 11 a.m. at the Mogadore Municipal Building, 135 S. Cleveland Ave., for children ages 3 to 9. Participants will then ride through the parade.
The Memorial Day Parade will start at 10 a.m. Winners of the bicycle decorating contest will be announced at Greenwood Cemetery once they are finished riding through the parade. First place winners will earn an Amazon Gift Card and must be present at the end to receive it. All participants will receive a gift. Call 330-628-4896 with any questions.
The ceremony will take place after the parade at Greenwood Cemetery, 809 Mogadore Road.
New Franklin
The New Franklin Memorial Day Parade begins at 10 a.m. on Memorial Day. The parade steps off from Grace Bible Church, 5781 Manchester Road) and goes approximately 1 mile south on Manchester Road to Manchester Cemetery, 1030 West Nimisila Road. A Remembrance Ceremony takes place at the cemetery immediately following the parade, at around 11 a.m. Parking and restrooms are available at Grace Bible Church, 5781 Manchester Road, and Lockhart Fields on Kaderly Way.
Nordonia Hills
The Nordonia Hills VFW Post 6768 will host a Memorial Day parade.
The Memorial Day Parade begins at 10 a.m., starting at St. Barnabas, 9451 Brandywine Road in Northfield Center, travels north on Olde Eight Road, and ends at Northfield Macedonia Cemetery, 9804 Olde Eight Road.
At 1:30 p.m., all are invited to Veterans Memorial Park, 8479 S. Bedford Road in Macedonia, for a Memorial Day ceremony hosted by American Legion Post 801 to honor the nation’s fallen heroes. Parking is available at the Girl Scout headquarters, 1 Girl Scout Way in Macedonia.
The VFW will also host an open house at 8584 Olde Eight Road in Northfield, with a free luncheon served from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Emergency Assistance Center will be accepting donations during the open house.
Norton
There will be a Memorial Day ceremony at the Veterans Memorial in Veterans Memorial Park, 4060 Columbia Woods Dr., starting at 9 a.m. Those attending are encouraged to bring a chair.
There also will be a pancake breakfast at the Norton Community Center, 4060 Columbia Woods Dr. Times are 7:15 to 8:45 a.m., or from 10 to 11 a.m. Cost is $10, veterans eat for free.
Richfield
Richfield will have several Memorial Day activities.
At 8 a.m., Richfield AMVETS Post 176 will conduct a wreath ceremony at Fairview Cemetery, 3990 Brecksville Road.
The Memorial Day Parade will start at 9:45 a.m. from the Richfield Historical Society, 3909 Broadview Road, to West Richfield Cemetery, 4219 Broadview Road. The ceremony will start at the Veterans Memorial at West Richfield Cemetery.
The parade and assembly will be canceled if it’s raining.
Bath-Richfield Kiwanis Memorial Weekend Community Breakfast is Sunday and Monday, May 24 and 25, at Masonic Hall, 4586 W. Streetsboro Road, from 8 a.m. to noon.
Adult and children’s tickets will be available at the door. For details, visit bathrichfieldkiwanis.org.
Stow
The city of Stow and Acker-Moore Memorial Post of the VFW will host a Memorial Day ceremony at Stow Cemetery, 3162 Kent Road, starting at 10:15 a.m. Following the cemetery ceremony, we will hold a Memorial Day Potluck at noon at the Acker Moore Memorial Post, 3733 Fishcreek Road, for members and their guests.Those attending are asked to bring a dish to share.
Silver Lake
Silver Lake will host a Memorial Day Ceremony from 11 a.m. to noon at the Veterans Tribute Garden, 2961 Kent Road.
Tallmadge
Tallmadge will have a Memorial Day Parade and Service, starting at 10 a.m. at the Tallmadge Circle. The service will immediately follow in the Tallmadge Cemetery, 46 North Ave.
The Tallmadge Chamber of Commerce also will host a Memorial Day Pancake Breakfast from 8 to 11 a.m. at the Tallmadge Community Center, 80 Community Road. Cost is $7 for ages 11 and older, $4 for children 4 to 10, free for ages 3 and younger, and free for veterans.
Twinsburg
The city of Twinsburg will have its annual Memorial Day Parade and Service, with the parade starting at 10:30 a.m. at Twinsburg High School, 10084 Ravenna Road. The parade will travel south on Ravenna Road to Church Street. This section of Ravenna Road will be closed at 10:25 am and will reopen at the conclusion of the parade.
Following the parade, a Memorial Day service will take place on the square in front of First Congregational Church of Twinsburg, 9050 Church St. The ceremony will include remarks, tributes, and moments of remembrance.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Memorial Day parades, events and more planned in Greater Akron
Reporting by April Helms, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
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