American Legion's parade, ceremony provided ample opportunity for reflection, appreciation
By Jennifer Zartman Romano
As the time drew a bit closer to 10:30 a.m. on Monday, residents lined up here and there along Van Buren Street hoping to gain a front row seat for the American Legion’s annual Memorial Day Parade.
A tradition for many, many years, the parade today probably brings out a few less people than it used to – but still a decent crowd formed for this year’s event.
The sirens of a Columbia City police car heralded the parade from Walnut to Van Buren and then south to Greenhill Cemetery for the ceremony there.
At the cemetery, attendees lined up along the cemetery’s main entrance, watching the parade wind into the cemetery. The color guard, a bugler and others participating in the ceremony waited nearby, some seated here and there on folding chairs. Of those in attendance, a large contingency included Boy Scouts from Troop 94, Cub Scouts and Korean War veterans.
American Legion commander Dean Ramsey led the group in prayer.
Ramsey took the opportunity to recognize someone who had always been involved with the Memorial Day events – but who was absent from the crowd this year: Joe Zickgraf. Ramsey remembered Zickgraf as a good Legion member. Zickgraf was a past commander of the American Legion Post 98.
“I know that Joe loved his God, his church, his family, his country,” Ramsey said. “I know he is with us in spirit today.”
Columbia City Mayor Jim Fleck then spoke contemplatively about Memorial Day, asking what attendees would remember about the day years from now. He talked about how he had spent the previous day with his 93-year-old mother. He said he had been thinking about local resident Jeff Lemon who is now serving his third tour in Iraq, about his father and about Stuart Smith who had served both his community and his country.
“We’re here to honor those who’ve allowed us to be free…those who’ve paid the ultimate price,” Fleck said.
A list of names of all American Legion Post 98 and VFW Post 5582 members who had passed away within the past year, including: Porter J. Adams, Ernest M Bowsman, Ralph Connett, George E. Coverstone, Raymond R. Gilbert, Thomas L. Goss, Richard D. Grunstad, Clarence D. Huey, Ralph M. Joker, Richard H. Kreider, Leon Paulus, Daniel D. Rock, Richard L. Smith, Robert H. Steller, Pleasant Guy Stickler, Joseph R. Zickgraf, Alvin K. Fry and Leon M. Wysong.
The ceremony concluded with a gun salute and a bugler playing “Taps.”