The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
IN THEIR MEMORY...
Memorial Day Parade and Program remembers those lost during war
Community members gathered May 28 in the spirit of remembrance at the Kipton Community Park for the Kipton, Camden, Henrietta Memorial Day Parade and Program.
Residents crowded along the parade route on Rosa and State Street and cheered as the parade rolled past.
The levity of the parade quickly subsided as people migrated from the street to Memorial Park to enjoy the annual program.
In the shadow of the village’s 130-year-old Civil War monument, members of the 2017 Memorial Day Committee addressed the crowd and facilitated the reading of the names of each member of the community who died while serving in the military since the War of 1812.
“They fight not for the lust of conquest. They fight to end conquest.”
— Charles Livermore, of Kipton Community Church, reads from Franklin D. Roosevelt’s D-Day prayer
When each name was read, members of the person’s family were invited up to receive a flower in their memory.
The assembly also recognized the active military members, veterans and families of active military members in the crowd by giving them a special commemorative ribbon.
In the opening prayer at the event, Charles Livermore, of Kipton Community Church, read from Franklin D. Roosevelt’s D-Day prayer delivered on the day of the daring Allied invasion of Europe.
“For these men are lately drawn from the way of peace,” he read. “They fight not for the lust of conquest. They fight to end conquest. They fight to liberate. They fight to let justice arise, and tolerance and good will among all thy people. They yearn but for the end of battle, for their return to the haven of home.”
According to Dolores Whitney, the parade and program were organized by the Memorial Day Committee, of which she is a member.
Another member, Betty Groot, said their group got its start as The Fireladies. She said before the advent of mutual aid between various fire departments across the county, it was the responsibility of The Fireladies to distribute coffee and sweets to members of the fire department.
According to Groot, that service is no longer needed, so the group turned its attention to Memorial Day and has been organizing the event for at least 40 years.
She also said this year was a special one for the soldier that stands atop the Civil War monument.
The figure had been leaning over for some time, and community members had been worried it might fall. Recently the Camden Township Trustees paid to have the issue corrected, and now the soldier stands straight and proud, Groot said.