How Franklin and neighboring counties are observing Memorial Day 2024
Held on the last Monday in May, Memorial Day pays homage to military personnel who died in service to their country. Service members killed in action are honored with parades, flag-planting and cemetery ceremonies, among other activities.
Originally called Decoration Day and observed in tribute to Confederate soldiers with neglected gravesites during the Civil War, Memorial Day became a federal holiday to remember all fallen soldiers in 1971.
Many Memorial Day events are scheduled in Columbus and throughout Franklin County, as well as in neighboring counties. Here is a list of observances in the area:
Franklin County
National Veterans Memorial and Museum (NVMM)
CrossFit Hero workout: Join the NVMM, 300 W. Broad St., Rogue Fitness and CrossFit Clintonville on May 25 for "The Murph," a workout in honor of late Medal of Honor recipient and Navy SEAL Lt. Michael Murphy. Test your mettle by completing a two 1-mile runs, 100 pull-ups, 200 push-ups and 300 squats during one of three heats at 8, 9 and 10 a.m. Choose your heat when you register. The $30 registration fee includes a commemorative Hero Workout item, free museum admission and free parking.
Motorcycle ride: Rev up your engines and arrive at the NVMM by 11 a.m. May 25 to participate in a remembrance ride and reflect on the meaning behind Memorial Day. The $15 fee includes reserved motorcycle parking, museum admission and a 15% discount in the NVMM Museum Exchange.
Gold Star family candlelight vigil: After a dessert reception at 7 p.m. May 26, the vigil procession begins at 8 p.m. on the museum rooftop and travels to the Soldiers Cross in Memorial Grove. Guest speaker Tara Harris is to discuss her path to healing after the death of her father, 1st Sgt. Glenn Harris of B Company, 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, who was killed in a training accident in 1993. Also U.S. Army veteran and country musician Keni Thomas is to share a special tribute for families of the fallen. This event is free.
Remembrance ceremony: Held on the rooftop of the NVMM at 10 a.m. May 27, the ceremony features keynote speaker 32nd Army Under Secretary Patrick J. Murphy, America’s first Iraq War veteran elected to the U.S. Congress. He is to address the importance of paying tribute to our fallen soldiers and their families, as well as how we can honor their legacy of service. Advance tickets are $5, which includes museum admission. The ceremony is free for veterans and active-duty military.
For more details and to register for events, go to nationalvmm.org/memorial-day-2024.
Green Lawn Cemetery
The cemetery, located at 1000 Greenlawn Ave., is the location of an open house from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and free flags to decorate veterans' graves are to be handed out. The cemetery, which opened in 1848, is the final resting place of more than 6,000 veterans, including five Medal of Honor recipients. At 11 a.m., visitors can enjoy a cookout and free picnic lunch in front of Huntington Chapel, near the middle of the cemetery. All are welcome.
Here are some other Memorial Day events happening in Columbus suburbs, all taking place on Monday, except where otherwise noted:
Dublin
A procession through Historic Dublin starts at 11 a.m., with a wreath-throwing ceremony at the Bridge Street bridge, ending with a Memorial Day ceremony at Dublin Cemetery, 83 W. Bridge St. A free noon picnic lunch follows at Monterey Park, 135 Monterey Drive. The keynote speaker is to be Amber Hudson Clark, Navy Reserve veteran and founder and executive director of M.A.S.H. (Military And Service Heroes) Pantry and Resource Center, based in Marysville.
Grandview Heights
All veterans and first responders are invited to meet at the city's parks and rec office, 1515 Goodale Blvd., at 7 p.m. May 23 to participate in a veteran's processional to Memorial Park, 1135 W. Second Ave., where a memorial service is to be held at 7:30 p.m.
A Memorial Day parade is to start at 10 a.m. May 25, beginning at First Avenue and Cambridge Boulevard and traveling along First Avenue to Oxley Road.
Grove City
A parade steps off from Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, 3730 Broadway, at 11 a.m., proceeds south on Broadway to Grove City Road and west to the Grove City Cemetery, 3605 Grove City Road, for a Memorial Day service. Afterward, American Legion Post 164, 3363 McDowell Road, hosts an open house for the remainder of the day. The event is open to the public and includes food and beverages.
Groveport
A Memorial Day parade at 1:30 p.m. begins at Groveport Town Hall, 648 Main St., and goes down Wirt Road to a ceremony in Groveport Cemetery (next to Groveport Heritage Park, 551 Wirt Road). In addition, the city is displaying banners honoring veterans and active-duty military service members from Groveport.
Westerville
Events are scheduled to be held from May 24 through Memorial Day at Westerville Sports Complex, 325 Cleveland Ave., including:
The 16th annual Field of Heroes, sponsored by the Sunrise Rotary Club, is to feature 3,000 American flags on display 24 hours a day and lit nightly.
At 8 a.m. May 26, a 5K run/walk for heroes is to begin at the Westerville Sports Complex. The event is limited to 1,200 participants. For registration details, go to fieldofheroes.org/fivek.
The closing ceremony on Memorial Day, a collaboration with the Westerville American Legion and VFW posts, is to begin at 11:30 a.m. with the reading of the names of those for whom a flag was dedicated this year and a bell-ringing ceremony, as well as remarks, invocation, a guest speaker, rifle volley, taps and a bagpipe tribute.
Worthington
The Worthington Memorial Day Parade, sponsored each year by the American Legion in Worthington, begins at 10 a.m. on East Dublin-Granville Road and proceeds south on High Street to Cemetery Drive for services at Walnut Grove Cemetery, 5561 Milton Ave.
Numerous events also are to take place in counties adjacent to Franklin County. All are on Memorial Day unless noted:
Delaware County
Powell
The Fallen 15 Memorial Day 4-Miler begins at 9 a.m. May 25 at Adventure Park, 260 Adventure Park Drive, winding north through the trails up to Liberty Park and back. Sign up to participate in-person or virtually at bit.ly/3xNDt32.
The Memorial Day parade steps off from Grace Drive at 10 a.m. and proceeds west to a ceremony at the Greater Powell Veterans Memorial in Village Green Park.
Sunbury
The Big Walnut Music & Marching Boosters Memorial Day Market, which runs from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Sunbury Village Square, is to offer 80-100 vendors offering crafts, antiques, plants and more, plus several food vendors, a kids' zone featuring bounce houses, an area to design thank-you cards for veterans and music from high school band members. Admission is $1 for adults and children 11 and older; children 10 and younger are free. All proceeds from this event go to music programs for Big Walnut students in grades 7-12.
Fairfield County
Lancaster
The Lancaster Memorial Day 5K Roosters Run at 8:30 a.m. continues its tradition as one of the longest-running road-race events in Ohio. The race starts and finishes at Lancaster High School, 1312 Granville Pike, and covers a flat and extremely fast course. The cost to participate is $30; sign up at bit.ly/3UcL2I0. There also is to be a free race for the little ones after the 5K.
The city's Memorial Day parade begins at 10:30 a.m. and ends with ceremonies at approximately 11 a.m. in Forest Rose Cemetery, 1238 N. Columbus St.
Lithopolis
A parade begins at 10 a.m. and ends at the Lithopolis Cemetery, 4365 Cedar Hill Road NW, where a Memorial Day ceremony is to take place.
The C-Town Cruisers Memorial Day car show is to run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on West Columbus Street, which is open to car-show participants only. On-site registration costing $15 per vehicle is from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Awards are to be presented at 3 p.m. The event also is to include live music, games, a DJ, food trucks, a community festival at Wagnalls, 150 E. Columbus St., and more.
Millersport
The second annual Rockin’ the Block supporting first responders, veterans and small businesses is to take place May 25-27 at the historic Sweet Corn Festival Grounds, 2905 Chautauqua Blvd. Thin Line Fitness of Ohio, LLC and the Millersport Lions Club have partnered to present live music, vendors and more. This event is free and open to the public.
Licking County
Pataskala
Lynd Fruit Farm, 9399 Morse Road SW, is to hold its third annual Memorial Day Weekend Craft Fair from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The show features more than 80 vendors selling hand-crafted items, plus food trucks.
Utica
From May 25 through Memorial Day, you can indulge your sweet tooth at the Utica Ice Cream Festival held at Ye Olde Mill, 11324 Mt. Vernon Road, home of Velvet Ice Cream. The fest offers more than 50 craft vendors, 20 food vendors, numerous ice-cream stations, live music, ice cream-eating contests, a magic show, face-painting and balloon art, COSI exhibits and more.
Newark
Big Bad Stache, a central Ohio cover band that plays a wide range of artists with a focus on rock, pop, blues and alternative, is to take the stage at the Trout Club, 2250 Horns Hill Road, at 6 p.m., followed by fireworks at dusk.
Johnstown
Rodgers Garage is to host its annual Memorial Day car meet from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 14841 Robins Road. In addition to hundreds of show cars, there is to be inflatables, giveaways and a variety of food trucks.
Madison County
Plain City
A procession including members of the American Legion, Boy Scouts and Daughters of the American Revolution leaves Pastime Park at 10 a.m. and marches down Chillicothe Street to the Darby Township Cemetery, 507 S. Chillicothe St., for a wreath presentation. A wreath-throwing takes place at the bridge over Darby Creek to commemorate the Armed Forces, followed by a ceremony in Forest Grove Cemetery, 8270 Cemetery Pike. There also is to be a flyover by an F-16 fighter jet from the 180th Fighter Wing from Toledo.
Pickaway County
Morning services are to be held at 8 a.m. at the High Street Cemetery, 202 E. High St., Circleville. A parade begins at 9 a.m. on Pickaway Street and goes to East Main Street, then North Court Street. A service is to follow at 10 a.m. in Forest Cemetery, 905 N. Court. St., with honor guard and a speaker.
A Memorial Day service is to take place at 11:30 a.m. at Hitler-Ludwig Cemetery, 1819 Hitler Road No. 1, Circleville.
Union County
Memorial Day events in Marysville are to begin at 8:15 a.m. in Schwartzkopf Park, 501 N. Maple St., where services are to be held to honor those lost at sea. At 9 a.m., a parade leaves Fifth and Plum streets (between PNC Bank and Goodies Galore), followed by a 9:30 a.m. ceremony at Oakdale Cemetery, 1290 W. Fifth St. After the ceremony at Oakdale Cemetery, VFW Post 3320 is to hold a service at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Cemetery, 580 Raymond Road, and American Legion Post 79 is to hold a ceremony at Amrine Cemetery on Mill Road in Paris Township.
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Franklin and nearby counties to hold Memorial Day parades and events
