Following 45 years of developing and hosting Memorial Day events in Canal Winchester, American Legion Post 220 Auxiliary Unit will be passing the torch to new organizers. VFW Post #10523 of Canal Winchester has agreed to take over hosting duties of the community’s annual Memorial Day Ceremonies. Pat Hartman, who has personally headed up event organizing on behalf of the Auxiliary Unit for over 30 years, recently announced that she has retired. “It’s been a pleasure to help develop the Memorial Day Ceremonies and host the program,” Hartman said. “We truly need to remember and honor our fallen veterans.”
VFW Post #10523 Commander Rick Williams expressed the Post’s appreciation for Ms. Hartman’s dedication and direction. “Pat Hartman was mistress of ceremonies for so many years. As she passes the torch, every effort will be made to carry on with the fine Memorial Day Program initiated by the American Legion’s Auxiliary Unit.”
2018 Canal Winchester Memorial Day Ceremonies will be held on May 28th at 10:30 a.m. at Union Grove Cemetery (400 Winchester Cemetery Rd.). The ceremony will feature keynote speaker Dr. Dana Street, a US Navy Veteran of Desert Storm. Following her military service, Dr. Street pursued a career in medicine, and currently practices in Columbus, Ohio. She joined the Canal Winchester VFW post in 2017, quickly becoming active in the Post’s many charitable activities benefiting local veterans and their families.
Other ceremony participants will include Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and the Canal Winchester High School Band.