Memorial Day events planned at Carrollton, Malvern, Augusta

Remembering the fallen

Decorated Vietnam veteran Michael Maiorca is scheduled to speak during the Carrollton Memorial Day service May 31 at Westview Cemetery.

Maiorca was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army when he graduated from Youngstown State University in 1968. The Carrollton resident attended officer training at Fort Benning, GA, and Jump School at Fort Sherman, Panama. He was then stationed at Fort Hood, TX, where he was a platoon leader and executive officer for the 1st Armored Division.

In September 1969, Maiorca was deployed to Vietnam, where he served with the 5th Infantry Division, also known as Red Diamond, on the DMZ (demilitarized zone) as infantry platoon leader, executive officer and company commander.

During his year of service there, Maiorca was awarded three Purple Hearts and three Bronze Stars, two for service and one for valor.

Following his return to the United States in August 1970 and his discharge from the military, he taught English at Niles McKinley for eight years. In 1979, he was hired as assistant superintendent at Carrollton Schools. He became superintendent in 1997 and served in that capacity until his retirement in 2002.

He continues to serve veterans through his service with the Veterans of Foreign Wars Fighting McCook Post #3301, where he served as commander.

He and his wife, Joyce celebrated 50 years of marriage in 2021. They have three daughters, Michele Alexander of Louisville, Jill Maiorca of Elyria and Lori Zancourides of Columbus and eight grandchildren.

Memorial Day events at Carrollton begin with the lineup   for the parade at 9 a.m. Larry Tasker, who is assisting with the organization of the parade, noted there are a few changes this year. Fire trucks will line up on 2nd St. NE (elementary school street) and other entries on 3rd St. (former high school street). Fire trucks should enter 2nd St. off N. Lisbon St. and all other entries should enter 3rd St. off Park Ave. The VFW float will be located in the parking lot of the Masonic Temple. Veterans who wish to ride the float should meet there.  Veterans are also invited to ride in their own vehicles like they did during the Veterans Day parade at the high school last fall, according to Tasker.

The parade will step off at 10 a.m., led by a Color Guard, the VFW float and the Carrollton High School band, under the direction of Dave Dickerhoof.

County veterans organizations plan to visit area cemeteries and conduct brief ceremonies May 30. The schedule includes a visit to Herrington Bethel Church at 10 a.m. followed by Mechanicstown at 10:30, Scroggsfield at 11 a.m. and Harlem Springs at 11:30. Participants will return to the VFW for lunch, provided by the auxiliary, at the completion of the services.

Malvern

The observance at Malvern will look a little different this year as the parade will begin at the Historical Society building in downtown. A ceremony is planned at the veterans wall, located behind the Historical Society building, at 9 a.m. The parade steps off from there, traveling along Porter St. to the St. Xavier Catholic Church cemetery, where there will also be a brief ceremony.

The entourage will proceed to Bethlehem Cemetery for a service that includes a speech by Dr. Mandal Haas.

Dr. Haas spent 21 years in the Ohio National Guard, retiring as a Lt. Colonel and is a widely sought-after speaker to share his story of serving as the primary physician for Saddam Hussein in 2004 when he was a prisoner of American military forces.

Haas, who has served the community as a family physician since 1998, graduated from the University of Akron with a bachelor’s degree in Natural Science and earned a Doctor of Medicine degree from Wright State  School of Medicine in 1995. He completed an internship at Aultman Hospital and a residency at Aultman Family Practice.   

Organizers invite the public to park in the lot at the First Christian Church and place lawn chairs along the new sidewalk to view the parade. Those wishing to attend the ceremony at Bethlehem Cemetery are asked to arrive at 9:15. The Malvern High School Band will participate in the ceremony as well.

A light breakfast (donuts, rolls, drinks) will be served at the American Legion Post, located at 203 Bridge St., prior to the parade and a light lunch will be served following the final ceremony.

Augusta

Augusta Township Trustees are hosting a Memorial Day service at Augusta Cemetery. 

The ceremony will be at 3 p.m. and will consist of a singer, and speaker. Minerva American Legion Post will present a 21-gun salute.  The public is invited to attend.