The Bluffton News - 101 N. Main St. - P.O.Box 49 - Bluffton, OH 45817
Phone: 419-358-8010 Fax: 419-358-8020
Memorial Day parade May 31
The annual Memorial Day parade and ceremony, coordinated by the Bluffton American Legion Post 382, was this past Monday, May 31.
In addition to the traditional downtown parade, a ceremony was held at Maple Grove Cemetery, Bluffton. The guest speaker was A. Ray Campbell, Master Chief U.S. Coast Guard retired.
Campbell was born in Kenton, Ohio in 1960 to Edward Arlen and Janett Campbell. He moved to Bluffton in 1966 and graduated from Bluffton High School in 1978. He joined the U.S. Coast Guard in April 1979.
Flags:
American flags have been placed on the graves of 631 veterans in the Bluffton, Beaverdam, and Richland Township cemeteries.
Cemeteries and number of flags:
Cemeteries and number of flags:
Maple Grove – 418
Beaverdam – 35
Pleasant Hill – 15
Ebenezer – 58
Jefferson Street – 3
Reformed Mennonite – 9
Zion – 9
Gratz (Emmanuel) – 15
Hubbell – 1
Woodlawn – 62
Defenseless Mennonite (Evangelical) – 6
Contact John Wagner if a veteran’s grave was inadvertently missed.
Local veterans who have died since last Memorial Day are: J. Richard Basinger, World War II; Joseph Birchnaugh, World War II; Martin Burkholder, World War II; Howard Eckenwiler, Vietnam; Maurice Fett, World War II; Glen Hanlin, Korea; Homer Henderson, Korea; Wade Huber, Word War II; E. Wayne Kidd, World War II; Kenneth Krautter, World War II; Leland Lehman, World War II; John Romey, World War II; Wesley Sommers, World War II; Edwin Suter, World War II; and Charles Swank, Korea.
