Photo by Gwen Sour From left Wilda Horton, Larry Courtwright, Rodney Scott and Gene Vehnam present a ceremonial wreath in honor of those who served the United States during a Memorial Day service at the Harmar Cemetery Monday morning.

While attendance was modest, several individuals present were self-proclaimed longtime Harmar residents who have attended the Memorial Day observance for years. Susan Jackson, a lifelong resident of Harmar Village, shared her perspective.

“It’s a little smaller than it used to be, which is a shame,” said Jackson. “My husband and I still watch it every year, though, it’s just a part of the west side.”

David Smith, a Harmar resident who watches the parade from his porch every year agreed with Jackson’s opinion.

“It’s like you blink and you miss it,” he said. “It’s nice that we still have something, but it’s not the same it was ten, twenty years ago.”

Photo by Gwen Sour Members of the Marietta Fire Department lead the parade in Harmar Village during Monday morning’s Memorial Day celebrations.

The service at Harmar Cemetery was conducted with reverent formality by members of Veterans of Foreign Wars Ronnie W. Davis Memorial Post 5108. The ceremony centered around a grave site, where the post commander and fellow officers stood with members of the VFW auxiliary, an honor guard and members of the Marietta Fire Department.

An opening address reflected on the origins of Memorial Day, first designated in 1868 as a time to decorate the graves of soldiers who had died in the Civil War.

“Let no one foot tread rudely on such hallowed ground,” said Gene Venham, commander of the VFW Post 5108. “Let us cherish tenderly the memory of our heroic dead.”

Wreaths and symbolic tributes were placed with care. The Senior Vice Commander offered a memorial wreath “on behalf of all who remember.” Two flowers, white and red, were placed to symbolize “purity and the courage of all who fought for freedom.”

Veterans, police, and emergency personnel stood in solemn tribute as Venham called for guests to gather and join in a final moment of silence.

Following the Harmar ceremony, American Legion Post 64 conducted the annual downtown Marietta parade at 10 a.m. Monday. The parade followed Putnam Street, Fifth Street and Wooster Street, concluding at Oak Grove Cemetery with the Memorial Day Ceremony.

The Marietta Noon Lions also continued its Bridge of Heroes program seeking to honor the community’s military service members and veterans by lining the Putnam Bridge with flags.

Gwen Sour can be reached at gsour@newsandsentinel.com