MEMORIAL DAY OBSERVANCE: Barberton honors nation’s war dead

Photos by Bob Morehead/BGNN

The Barberton High School Choir sings songs of Americana at the Memorial Day observance.

Scouts from Boy Scout Troop 101 and Cub Scout Pack 3101 put the flags at half-staff for Memorial Day.

Barberton Mayor William Judge welcomes a crowd of hundreds to the city’s Memorial Day observance at Lake Anna.

A rifle squad from VFW Post 1066 marches in for Barberton’s Memorial Day
service.

A rifle squad from VFW Post 1066 fires three volleys in salute of America’s war dead.

Vietnam veteran Willie Jenkins addresses the crowd at Barberton’s Memorial Day observance.

High school band member Kellen Lockhart plays “Taps” in salute of the nation’s fallen.

 

By BOB MOREHEAD
BGNN senior staff writer

BARBERTON  The Magic City has always celebrated America’s war dead on Memorial Day and hundreds packed the west side of Lake Anna Park in front of the Barberton Military Honor Roll May 27.

After the customary welcome by Barberton Mayor William Judge and patriotic songs by the high school band and choir, Barberton VFW Post 1066 Commander Ernie Penko urged the crowd to take note of the green-colored names on the memorial’s wall.

“These people never got to tell their stories,” Penko said.

Vietnam veteran Willie Jenkins was the keynote speaker, reminding the crowd of the holiday’s history and significance and closing by having the crowd shout “thank you” to the sky to the spirits of those fallen service members.

Scouts from Boy Scout Troop 101 and Cub Scout Pack 3101 handled the flags and a squad from VFW Post 1066 fired three volleys in salute of the dead and Barberton High School Band trumpeter Kellen Lockhart played “Taps” in their honor.