Memorial Day services scheduled in Sugarcreek area

Memorial Day services, sponsored by Homer Weiss Post 494 of the American Legion in Sugarcreek, have been scheduled for Monday, May 25, Post Commander Linda Stefanov announced.

The post honor team will conduct a ceremony at 7:45 a.m. at the Veterans Memorial in Walnut Creek. The team will conduct honors at Dundee Cemetery at about 8:30-8:40 a.m., followed by ceremonies at Eastlawn Cemetery in Sugarcreek at 9:15-9:30 a.m.

A short ceremony will be held at 10:30 a.m. at Union Hill Cemetery at the grave of Homer Weiss for all veterans buried there. Post 494 then will go to Ragersville Cemetery. A service also will be held in Baltic at 10:45 a.m.

Jason E. Thornton, director of the Tuscarawas County Veterans Service Office, will be the featured speaker at the Sugarcreek services. Thornton has worked in the office since April 2017 and was named director in January. He served in the Marine Corps for 20 years and retired as a chief warrant officer 3 in August 2013.

Thornton is an officer in the Tuscarawas VFW and a member of the Newcomerstown American Legion. He enjoys golfing and camping with his family and works with veterans nonprofit organizations that focus on supporting veterans’ mental health and well-being.

Also participating in the Sugarcreek service will be the Garaway High School Band, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Stefanov and Post Chaplain J.R. Bitikofer. Two students from Miller Avenue School will give the Gettysburg Address and “In Flanders Fields.” The students are McKinley Raber, whose parents are Jacob and Karley Raber, and Baxton Troyer, whose parents are James and Kendra Troyer.

Civil War reenactor Franklin Hershberger and family will place the Medal of Honor flag at the grave of Milton Blickensderfer.

Stefanov invites all citizens to participate in the Memorial Day services. Post 494 offers flags for sale for those wanting to purchase one.