Veterans remembered across Ashtabula County

Yahoo

27-05-2025

Memorial Day takes on a different feel, from family to family and community to community.
Residents from across Ashtabula County gathered Monday for barbecues and family gatherings to celebrate the unofficial start to summer.
Memorial Day services throughout the area, however, had a different emphasis regarding the importance of the day.
Many townships and villages throughout the county hosted community remembrances in cemeteries, while others had parades showing off the local high school band.
The common theme was for people to remember the lives lost as men and women fought for our freedoms around the world.
Rock Creek hosted a remembrance that included a parade down Route 45, a memorial wreath tossed into Rock Creek and a full ceremony at Union Cemetery.
Many people gathered in downtown Rock Creek, while others walked alongside the parade to the ceremony. Jim Prentice, a veteran of the U.S. Navy, tossed a wreath into Rock Creek in memory of Navy veterans who perished serving their country.
Rock Creek Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #4953 Commander John Dyrcz led a ceremony at the cemetery where more than 150 people gathered. The Jefferson Area High School Band participated in the parade, and played the National Anthem at the cemetery.
'I really do appreciate you people taking the time to come out and participate,' Dyrcz said before handing the program over to Ashtabula County Commissioner Casey Kozlowski.
Kozlowski said many people see Memorial Day as the start of the summer and a chance to have fun with family and friends, but there is a more important, deeper meaning.
Kozlowski reminded people of the importance of remembering the sacrifices of the men and women who went before.
'We may live in a rural corner of Ohio, but we understand patriotism,' he said.
He mentioned the unique gift D-Day Conneaut gives to thousands of people from many states every August.
'It is a very real reminder of the costs of war,' Kozlowski said.
Up the road at Saybrook Cemetery, Ohio National Guard Chaplain Major Sean Hampton shared his military experiences and urged those in attendance to remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.
'I have served in one capacity or another since October of 1993,' Hampton said. He said he jokes with new soldiers about his reference point compared to theirs.
'I tell them I was shot at before they were even born,' he said with a laugh. Hampton served in two deployments to Iraq as a medic in 2005 and 2010, and again in 2023 as a chaplain.
Hampton said he has been with soldiers that were struggling to find courage in battle and with families who have lost loved ones during his career. He said those still enjoying freedoms earned by veterans should 'earn' their honor by living their lives in ways that would make people who did not survive their military service proud.
'As you enjoy your day off take some time in silence and earn that [honor],' he said.
Saybrook Township Trustee Dan Claypool spoke after Hampton, and urged those in attendance to focus on sacrifices made by veterans.
'Memorial Day is a solemn occasion to remember those who laid down their lives,' he said.
Geneva remembered veterans during a ceremony at Evergreen Cemetery, which included numerous veterans organizations, Cub Scouts, the Geneva High School band and dozens of people.
'In memory of those who have given the ultimate sacrifice, we place this wreath in their honor,' said Gina Diaddario Chismar, of the Blue Star Mothers.
Geneva Citizen of the Year Joe Ortiz also spoke at the service.
'Geneva has lost many sons and daughters,' he said. 'The sacrifice made by these fallen heroes lives on.'
In Conneaut, families lined up on chairs or blankets along Broad and Main streets as the city's parade assembled at the Conneaut American Legion.
Brad Ward said his family came to the parade so the children could enjoy getting candy, and the parents could enjoy the cars and the veterans.
As the veterans boarded a float, the Conneaut High School Band lined up along the street and police got ready to escort the parade to the city's war memorial for a wreath laying before moving on to the cemetery for a ceremony.
More than 60 people attended a ceremony at the Ashtabula War Memorial, where Len Jury, honor guard commander of the Ashtabula American Legion Post, shared a speech regarding Memorial Day.
He said a new flag pole will be installed at the memorial to fly a medal of honor flag. He announced Civil War veterans Louis Shepard and Isaac Jones, both from Ashtabula, would be honored at the memorial for their service.
Jury also gave brief synopsis of the many different places American soldiers have fought around the world.
Many small ceremonies took place in township cemeteries throughout the county, with some veterans groups assisting at many different events throughout the day.