Mid-Ohio Valley communities slate Veterans Day commemorations
PARKERSBURG — Veterans Day will be observed in Vienna, Marietta and Parkersburg.
* The day before Veterans Day, Discovery World on Market will be open from noon-5 p.m. Sunday and will be honoring veterans. Jan Dils Attorney at Law will be sponsoring free admission to the museum for all active military members, veterans and their families.
* In Marietta, a parade will start at 10 a.m. at Fourth and Hart streets, with lineup beginning at 9 a.m.
The parade will make its way on Fourth to Putnam to Front where it will conclude at the Armory on Front Street, with a ceremony to follow. There will then be a luncheon for veterans and their families at VFW Post 5108 at 319 Pike St. in Marietta, organizers said.
* The parade in Parkersburg will be from the horseshoe at Parkersburg High School and will take Washington Avenue beginning at 10 a.m. Monday, ending at Memorial Plaza in City Park. The parade marshal will be Charles Wallbrown.
A ceremony will be held following the parade with guest speaker G. Allen Wood and local dignitaries, including Parkersburg Mayor Tom Joyce and Vienna Mayor Randy Rapp.
Most of the veterans organizations participating are scheduled to hold open houses following the parade and ceremony, organizers said.
* The Vienna Veterans Day observance will begin at noon Monday at Spencer’s Landing at the Gold Star Memorial.
Russell Griffith, who is retired from the U.S. Army, will be the keynote speaker. The prayers will be offered by Father John Gallagher. Carlins Battery, a county-sanctioned Civil War re-enactment group led by Jim Miracle, will fire the ceremonial cannon during the festivities.
* A wreath laying ceremony will be 3 p.m. Monday at West Virginia University at Parkersburg.
Organized by the WVUP Veteran Resource Center, the event will be held in the Theater. The ceremony will include special guest speaker Melody Zimmerman, a U.S. Navy veteran, Blennerhassett Chapter, NSDAR; and Bryan Casey, grandson of CW4 Hershel “Woody” Williams.