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PARKERSBURG -- Memorial Day programs organized by differing veterans organizations, funeral homes and service groups will be held Memorial Day Weekend across the Mid-Ohio Valley.
* On Saturday, Sunset Memory Gardens on West Virginia 95 in south Parkersburg will hold its annual Memorial Day Ceremony.
This year's program will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Veterans Wall at the front of the cemetery with a rifle salute, flag raising ceremony, "Taps" and other activities. The cemetery's Avenue of Flags will be on display through the weekend. Sunset will also be hosting a food drive from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday for Disabled American Veterans Chapter 32 to benefit area veterans.
* On Sunday, a ceremony will be at 2 p.m. at Ravenswood Cemetery. It will feature speakers and officials along with representatives from law enforcement agencies and local veterans groups as special guests at the ceremony. The guest speaker will be U.S. Air Force veteran Rev. Frank Miller.
Most of the area's Memorial Day services are scheduled for Monday.
* In Belpre, the annual Memorial Day program will be 11 a.m. Monday at Leavitt Funeral Home in Belpre, at the flagpole and veterans memorial dedicated in 2007 by the funeral home to veterans who have received services there.
The event is organized by Leavitt Funeral Home and the Belpre Veterans Association. The program will feature speakers, a rifle salute and the laying of a wreath and the playing of "Taps" during the ceremony. Light refreshments will be served at the funeral home.
* The Beverly-Waterford parade will be at 9 a.m. Monday with lineup at Fort Frye High School and services at Beverly Cemetery, Waterford Bridge and Waterford Cemetery. The parade is sponsored by the American Legion Post 389.
* In Marietta, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5108 will again sponsor the early morning parade from Harmar Elementary School to Harmar Cemetery with lineup at 7:30 a.m., the parade will start at 8 a.m. with a brief ceremony on the Putnam Bridge.
American Legion Post 64 will conduct the annual downtown Marietta parade. Lineup begins at 9 a.m. at East Muskingum Park and the parade begins at 10 a.m. following Putnam Street, Fifth Street (with a "pass and review" at Mound Cemetery) and Wooster Street, concluding at Oak Grove Cemetery with a Memorial Day Ceremony. Luncheon will be held after the ceremony at the American Legion and the VFW.
The Marietta Noon Lions will continue its Bridge of Heroes program seeking to honor the community's military service members and veterans. During the weeks of Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Veterans Day, the Putnam Street Bridge will be lined with more than 100 flags dedicated to the brave men and women who have served the country.
* In Parkersburg, American Legion Post 15 will begin its day with a ceremony at 9 a.m. Monday at the post headquarters at 2505 Ohio Ave. in the traffic circle.
A full Memorial Day service organized by Post 15 will follow at 10 a.m. Monday at City Park at the veterans plaza next to the pond. There will be posting of the colors, speakers, "Taps," a rifle salute and the laying of a wreath. The names of area veterans who have died since the last Memorial Day will be read.
* In Williamstown, American Legion Post 159 will be gathering at Tomlinson Park at 9 a.m. Monday for the annual parade. The parade will depart at 9:30 a.m. to the Riverview Cemetery on Waverly Road where the community will honor the deceased veterans by laying of the wreath by the Ladies Auxiliary and a rifle salute by the Color Guard along with "Taps." A flag disposal ceremony and lunch will follow at the post.
* In Ripley, the Jackson County Veterans Memorial Day Service will be 10 a.m. Monday on the Jackson County Courthouse lawn. There will be speakers, the posting of the colors, the national anthem, a rifle ceremony, wreath-laying and other activities.