The Bowling Green Memorial Day Observation Committee has planned Memorial Day services on Monday.
The Memorial Day Parade through Bowling Green stepping off at 10 a.m. Veterans and patriotic units are invited to join in the parade.
U.S Army Colonel (Retired) Stephen Ledbetter, Commander, Paul C. Ladd VFW Post 1148, will deliver the keynote address at the Memorial Day Service at Oak Grove Cemetery at 10:30 a.m.
Originally from Tennessee, Ledbetter served in a variety of command and staff positions, both within the United States and overseas, during his over two decades of Army active-duty service. This included tours at Fort Bragg, North Carolina in the 82nd Airborne Division and Army Special Operations Command; at Fort Eustis, Virginia where he commanded the 53rd Transportation Battalion; in Washington, DC at the Pentagon where he served as the military assistant for the assistant secretary of the Army for Manpower and Reserve Affairs; and in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania where he commanded Letterkenny Army Depot.
His overseas assignments include Germany, where he deployed to Bosnia, Croatia, and Hungary in support of Operation Joint Endeavor; two combat tours in Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom; and a tour in Kuwait in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
He retired in February 2020, after 26 years of active duty in the U.S. Army.
He is married to Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Andrea Adams and they have three children — Matthew, who is a junior at the University of Hawaii, Mariah, who is a freshman at the University of Tennessee and Maddy, who is a senior at Bowling Green High School.
The National Anthem will be performed by the Bowling Green High School band. Vocalist Evvie Van Vorhis will sing the “Armed Forces Medley” and “Let There Be Peace on Earth.” Thomas Headley, Deacon at St. John XXIII Catholic Church, will serve as chaplain, and Bowling Green Mayor Michael Aspacher will present Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address.
Logan’s Orders will be presented by Lori Tretter, Bowling Green city administrator. Herbert Dettmer will recite “Call to Remember.” The winner of the VFW Paul C. Ladd Post 1148 Voice of Democracy contest, Zane Barber, will be reciting “The Greatest Attribute of Democracy.”
Paul C. Ladd VFW Post 1148 will be open at 8 a.m. with coffee and donuts for veterans participating in the parade and services.
In case of inclement weather, the program will be held in the Veterans Memorial Building at City Park at 10:30 a.m.
Ledbetter will also speak at Wood County Memory Gardens Cemetery on Liberty Hi Road at 1 p.m.
The following events were submitted to the Sentinel-Tribune.
• Bowling Green: Union Hill Cemetery, 13561 Union Hill Road, will be having a Memorial Day service on Monday at 8:30 a.m. The service will be hosted by the Tontogany American Legion Post #441.
• Custar: The Custar American Legion will hold a Memorial Day service at Milton Cemetery on Monday at 1 p.m. The Bowling Green High School band will perform. A potluck will follow in the legion hall, 9315 Custar Road.
• Jerry City: The Jerry City Memorial Day Committee has announced this year’s Memorial Day activities for Monday. Guests are invited to arrive at the Jerry City Cemetery where at 11 a.m., those gathered will participate in the annual Memorial Day observance with guest speaker Jared Cooper. Roll call of those interred at Jerry City and Mt. Zion cemeteries who have served our country will be by Rose Chambers. Performing for those in attendance will be the Elmwood High School Marching Band.
• Luckey: Troy-Webster American Legion Post #240 honor guard will present arms with a 21-gun salute at Webster Township Cemetery at 9 a.m. on Monday, Auxiliary Unit juniors Sophia Odom and Brooklyn Pease, along with auxiliary President Becky Dippman, will place wreaths in memory of all veterans.
The honor guard, juniors, and unit president will also perform the ceremony at New Belleville Ridge cemetery in Dowling at approximately 9:30 a.m. following a service by Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church. Ceremonies will be repeated at Old Belleville Ridge in Dowling, and Salem cemetery on Bradner Road immediately following.
The Memorial Day events for the Village of Luckey will be held at Troy Township Cemetery with a concert by Eastwood High School Band starting at 1:45 p.m. The program will begin at 2 p.m. Wood County Sheriff Mark Wasylyshyn will be the speaker.
The Legion will follow the program with a 21-gun salute at the mound along with placing of wreaths to honor veterans by the auxiliary president and juniors. In case of thunder storms, the program will be canceled.
• Perrysburg: Perrysburg American Legion Post 28 will hold its annual Memorial Day parade on Monday at 10 a.m.
All military veterans, color guards, bands, classic cars, businesses, scout troops, elected officials, and groups are welcome to participate in the patriotic parade. Registration is not required.
The parade will form at the corner of Louisiana Avenue and Fifth Street, beginning at 9 a.m. For additional information, contact Visit Perrysburg at 419-874-9147 or [email protected].
The parade will make a stop at Hood Park on West Front Street for the placing of a wreath to honor those killed in service. From there, parade participants will head to Fort Meigs Cemetery, where a memorial service will be held that will include the placing of a wreath, the reading of veteran names, and a 21-gun salute. American Legion Post 28 will memorialize veterans who have passed since Memorial Day last year.
Contact Legion post commander Craig Gauger at 419-350-4345 or by email at [email protected] to have a deceased veteran’s name read at the graveside ceremony. Names should be submitted by Saturday.
• Rudolph: The Liberty Township Memorial Committee will hold a service Monday at 8:45 a.m. at the Rudolph Cemetery on Rudolph Road. If the event of inclement weather, the service will be in the Liberty Township Civic Center.
