Medina honors fallen service members at Memorial Day ceremony

Medina’s annual Memorial Day Parade concluded at Spring Grove Cemetery, where a crowd gathered to honor those who served in the Armed Forces and remember those who gave their lives to protect American freedom.

Members of the Medina High School band and chorus provided a backdrop of patriotic music, and MHS student Luke Webb recited the Gettysburg Address. Retired U.S. Army Col. David Taylor coordinated the ceremony, and Mayor Jim Shields led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Representatives of the cemetery and local veterans organizations laid wreaths at the foot of the iconic Civil War statue. Deacon Mark Tomecko of St. Francis Xavier Church opened the ceremony with a prayer and ended with a benediction, followed by a 21-gun volley and the playing of “Taps.”

The guest speaker was Troy Giles, a U.S. Army master sergeant who recently retired after serving 20 years in the Army military police, including tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. Giles grew up in Medina but traveled from his current home in Georgia to attend.

He told the crowd he reported to basic combat training soon after graduating from Medina High School.

“The last time I had the privilege of attending this ceremony, I was standing right over there as a member of the Musical Bees, playing the mellophone,” Giles said.

Giles added, “Today is a bittersweet day, as we dedicate the memory of the fallen, honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice, and giving their lives in support of our great nation. This year, I’d be honored if you would join me in honoring the specific heroes in my life, the people that I personally served with, who paid the sacrifice.”

After describing the deaths of several comrades, he said, “I pray that all of these soldiers are at peace. Every veteran here has stories similar to this; of those who sacrificed their lives for our great country, whether they died in combat from hostile fire, at their bases during training and preparation for war, supporting our allies in humanitarian and aid missions, or at their homes, succumbing to the demons they lived with each day. They may be gone, but they will never be forgotten.”