ASHLAND — Memorial Day will look a different than usual this year, as parades across Ashland County have been canceled due to COVID-19.
Leadership in Ashland, Loudonville, Perrysville, Jeromesville and Hayesville confirmed Wednesday their traditional Memorial Day parades have been canceled and sometimes replaced with smaller ceremonies to recognize the occasion.
In Ashland, a small group of veterans intends to meet at the corner of Main and Cottage Streets at 10:45 a.m. Monday, May 25. They’ll lead a short procession to the Ashland Cemetery, where a 20-minute program will recognize the occasion, according to organizer and veteran Ron Dull.
The entire procession and ceremony will be live streamed to the City of Ashland’s Facebook page, allowing the community to partake from their own homes.
In Loudonville, Mayor Steve Stricklen confirmed that the Memorial Day parade is canceled. Parades in Jeromesville and Hayesville are also canceled.
“It’s what we traditionally do, but unfortunately, it has to be different this year,” Jeromesville Mayor Randy Spade said.
Loudonville resident Aaron Nest intends to arrange a short procession of military vehicles to travel through Loudonville, Hayesville and Jeromesville on Memorial Day. It will include at least eight military vehicles.
“It’s my Christmas. I’m a veteran, and Memorial Day is about remembrance, so I am going to do something for it,” Nest said.
According to the Perrysville Lions Club secretary Julianne Zody, her organization has placed almost 500 flags will be placed on veterans’ graves. The flags were purchased by the local branch of the VFW.
The VFW, she said, will hold a small ceremony to remember those who have served. She didn’t know when the ceremony will take place.
