Local Memorial Day events planned

Local communities will observe Memorial Day weekend. Events begin on Friday in Fort Recovery.

Fort Recovery

Fort Recovery American Legion Post 345 and VFW Post 6515 members will conduct their Memorial Day service at 7 p.m. Friday. The service will start at the Wabash Bridge on North Wayne Street. After the ceremony, the veterans groups, Scouts, 4-H clubs, firefighters and anyone else wanting to march will then parade to Monument Park for the remainder of the program.

Guest speaker Bob Howell, VFW District 2 commander, will give a short speech at Monument Park and the honor guard will fire a salute and play taps.

Celina

Memorial Day observances in Celina will be held at 11 a.m. Monday with services at Lakeshore Park's memorial site.

Mercer County Veterans Service Officer Tom Risch will welcome the crowd and provide commentary. The Celina High School band will play the national anthem. The Rev. Eric Muhlenkamp will give an invocation and benediction.

Keynote speaker is national executive committeewoman Shirley Maurer. Music will also be provided by the band.

Celina VFW and American Legion auxiliaries members will place wreaths at the memorial. A salute to deceased veterans will be conducted with a firing squad followed by the playing of taps.

Other participants will be the color guards of the Mercer County Firefighters Association, American Legion Post 210 and VFW Post 5713, as well as the ladies and men's auxiliaries, all of Celina.

A breakfast will be served at the Celina American Legion at 7 a.m. Lunch will also be served at the Legion after a memorial service for all participants and their families.

Memorial Day also will be observed at the Mercer Memory Garden at 10 a.m. Monday. Mercer County Veterans Service Commissioner Bob Howell will speak. Area auxiliaries will present wreaths.

VFW chaplain John Schmidt will offer a prayer, and a firing squad will conduct a salute to the dead before the playing of taps.

Coldwater

Holy Trinity Catholic Church will hold Memorial Day Mass at 7:15 a.m. Monday. Coffee and doughnuts will be served in the church basement after Mass. Coldwater United Methodist Church will begin services at 8:30 a.m.

Coldwater American Legion Post 470 will conduct services at Coldwater Memorial Park at 10 a.m. Master of Ceremonies is Lavern Stammen, and mayor Joseph Knapschaefer will give the Memorial Day address. The Rev. Jim Stilwell of Coldwater UMC will offer the invocation and the Rev. Richard Walling of Holy Trinity will give a benediction. Music will be provided by the Coldwater High School band under the direction of Dan Ruckman.

Members of the Coldwater American Legion, Coldwater VFW Post 5135, Sons of the American Legion, and their auxiliaries will place wreaths at the memorial. A salute to deceased comrades will be conducted by the American Legion Honor Guard.

American Legion Post 470 will conduct services at St. Elizabeth Cemetery immediately after the program at the park. They will proceed to St. Mary's cemetery in Philothea for services at 11 a.m. and Swamp College Cemetery for service at 11:30 a.m.

VFW Post 5135 members will conduct services at St. Anthony cemetery immediately after the program at the park. They will continue to Holy Trinity cemetery in Trinity, Indiana, and finish at Young Cemetery at the Coldwater VFW on State Route 118, south of Coldwater.

Mendon

Memorial Day services will begin at 8:30 a.m. Monday at the park before marching to the river. The invocation will be given by the Rev. Jake Boroff. Flowers will be cast into the river followed by a gun volley for deceased veterans. Taps will be played by the Parkway High School band.

The group will reassemble and march to the park, where the band will play the national anthem. Mayor John Boroff will give an introductory speech before the Rev. Rob Glenn addresses the crowd. Wreaths will be laid by the VFW and American Legion auxiliaries. Also participating will be color guards from Mercer County Firefighters Association, American Legion 210, VFW Post 5713, Vietnam Veterans of America 783, all of Celina. Boy and Girl Scout members are also scheduled to participate.

The Rev. Jake Boroff will give the closing prayer. Breakfast will be served at the Mendon United Methodist Church from 7-11 a.m for a free-will donation to help fund the youth group.

Minster

The Minster American Legion and the VFW will have a special veterans' Mass at 10 a.m. Sunday at St. Augustine Catholic Church. A special church service also will be held at 11 a.m. Monday to honor deceased veterans. A 21-gun salute will follow outside. A dinner at the Knights of Columbus hall will be held at noon for the veterans, spouses, widows and special guests.

New Bremen

The New Bremen American Legion Post 241 will host a Memorial Day service at the German Protestant Cemetery at 11 a.m. Monday to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice for freedom.

Osgood

Memorial Mass at St. Nicholas will be at 9 a.m. Monday. Participants will then visit the local cemeteries.

Rockford

Rockford will honor fallen veterans at Riverside Cemetery at 10 a.m. Monday. Flags will be placed on the grave markers. A 21-gun salute will follow, and taps will be played. The Memorial Day parade will begin at 11 a.m. and travel north on Main Street to the service at Hedges Park where the new veterans' memorial will be built. The Rev. Chip Steffy of Rockford United Methodist Church will be the guest speaker.

The Rockford American Legion will also host a chicken dinner fundraiser. The cost will be $7. Tickets are presale only and are available at the Rockford American Legion hall, Barry's Family Market and the Rockford Carry Out.