Residents honor military, sacrifices on Memorial Day

FREMONT – Like a lot of city residents, Kay Lutz spends part of her Memorial Day downtown at the annual parade.

She cheers the floats, high school bands and law enforcement personnel and remembers the sacrifices of fallen soldiers as she commemorates the holiday on Front Street.

Lutz rode her bike to this year’s parade Monday and watched the annual event while sitting in front of city hall under a tree. She shared her thoughts on the parade and her general thoughts on remembering the sacrifices of area military veterans on the holiday.

“It seems to get bigger every year,” Lutz said, noting that the color guard had returned to this year’s parade. “I just feel thankful. I just feel so blessed to be born in this country.”

Fremont’s American Legion Post organized the parade, which stretched along Front Street to Tiffin Street. Residents sat in lawn chairs or stood at blocked off intersections, as fire trucks blared their sirens and parade participants tossed candy to kids sitting along the sidewalks of the parade route.

Riley Braun and his friend, Nick Reid, held an American flag on a small pole as they watched the parade go past them.

Braun said he liked the S.C.R.A.P. antique tractors and hot rods in this year’s parade. He said he spent last year’s Memorial Day in Sandusky.

“It’s good to see everybody forget about the nonsense and come together,” Reid said as he held the flag.

After the parade, organizers held a Memorial Day ceremony to honor area veterans at Rodger Young Park’s Veterans Memorial.

The ceremony included the placing of wreaths in front of the memorial by several military advocacy groups and a brief speech by VFW Post 2947 Chaplain Joe Eberly on the courage and sacrifices of Rodger W. Young, the Sandusky County native posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for bravery displayed during World War II.

Mayor Jim Ellis said Fremont and Sandusky County were extremely patriotic areas. Ellis noted the number of area veterans that had been awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor and said that Memorial Day was an important holiday to local residents.

“I think it really means a lot to people,” Ellis said.

Danny Sanchez, the Republican candidate for mayor in November, said he gave thanks for the veterans that sacrificed their lives so that residents could be there to enjoy the Memorial Day parade and ceremony.

“It was a great community turnout,” Sanchez said.

dacarson@gannett.com

419-334-1046

Twitter:@DanielCarson7.