Community turns out for Memorial Day

ZANESVILLE –

Early Monday morning, Zanesville residents gathered at Woodlawn Cemetery to place wreaths at grave sites to honor all military veterans for their service to the country. Members of the community stood in silence as a color guard performed a 21-gun salute and taps were played.

Diana Beisser, of Zanesville, brought her two young children to Woodlawn for the ceremony because she wanted them to understand what Memorial Day is all about.

"I want you to pay attention to what they're doing," she said to her kids. "This is why we get the day off work."

Beisser's father, a Korean War veteran, is buried at Woodlawn, and growing up she said she never attended Memorial Day ceremonies, not even with him. She wants to instill the tradition in her children, though.

"I just feel they should know the true meaning of Memorial Day," she said.

The event at Woodlawn Cemetery, which was hosted by the American Legion, was just one of several Memorial Day ceremonies that took place throughout Zanesville.

At Greenwood Cemetery, the Walter S. Kildow Detachment of the Marine Corps League of Zanesville hosted its own event. Retired Master Sgt. Richard Bowers of the Marine Corps League organized the event and said he was pleased with the turnout.

The event is important, he said, "to educate the young people and some of the older people of the sacrifices made by our veterans."

Without the members of the military, both those who have served and those who are still serving, Bowers said Americans could not enjoy the freedoms they have.

The event included reading the names of Muskingum County veterans who have died in the past year, placing wreaths at grave sites and a performance by the Zanesville High School band.

Sgt. Major Dennis Bradley, a recruiter for the U.S. Marine Corps. from Charleston, W.Va., was the guest speaker at the event.

"One percent of this nation defends the other 99 percent," Bradley said. "Today we honor those who should be household names."

Bradley also spoke about family members of veterans, saying they are heroes as well.

"Those of us here today know who the true heroes are," he said.

At noon, the Zanesville Disabled American Veterans hosted a ceremony on the Veterans Bridge on Underwood Street where participants threw wreaths honoring service men and women into the Muskingum River.

Dave Carroll, commander of the local DAV chapter, said anytime people can do something in honor of the military, it's a special time.

"Functions like this remind the public of what they have (thanks to veterans)," he said.

Other events on Monday included a ceremony at Memorial Park Cemetery and an afternoon reception at the Veterans of Foreign Wars local post.

ksnyder2@zanesvilletimesrecorder.com

740-450-6752

Twitter: @KL_Snyder