The wind was blowing enough for the American flags to wave in the wind, whispering amid the silence of those gathered at the Maple Grove Cemetery in Granville on Memorial Day.
Only a few minutes earlier, hundreds of people swarmed West Broadway in downtown Granville and split off onto S. Pearl Street, following behind the parade led by a military color guard, scout troops, the Daughters and Sons of the American Revolution, first responders and the Granville High School Marching Band. Neighbors and friends greeted each other and exchanged hugs while they anxiously lined up for the parade.
At the cemetery observance, the Rev. Tom Pound, pastor of Spring Hills Baptist Church, gave an invocation, amplifying messages of the importance of remembrance and connection.
The community stood and recited the Pledge of Allegiance with hands over their hearts.
Afterward, Granville High School student Payton Korstad read Logan’s Order, issued by Gen. John A. Logan in 1868 to create a national day to remember and honor the fallen soldiers of the Civil War. In the order, Logan said, “let us in this solemn presence renew our pledges to aid and assist those whom they have left among us as sacred charges upon the nation’s gratitude – the solider’s and the sailor’s widow and orphan.”
Army veteran John Pitcock, Commander of Post 398, read the final roll call of the 16 Granville-area veterans who died since last Memorial Day. Among them was David R. Lipphardt, who joined the United States Navy in 1949, when he was trained to be an avionics technician. He served four years in Honolulu during the Korean War.
His daughter, Jennie Lipphardt, hasn’t missed a Granville Memorial Day remembrance since her family moved to town in 1965. She sat close to the front, by herself, taking in the serene landscape and commemoration.
“Life gets busy, but I think it’s really important to keep coming to these events,” she said. “A lot of towns don’t even have these events.”
In front of the flagpole, where the gathering’s speaker sat, a circular table stood with objects symbolizing aspects of life lost when veterans go missing in action or are considered prisoners of war. Paul Wilson, of the Licking County Veterans’ Service Commision, spoke to the significance of each item before a moment of silence.
Owen Costa, another student from Granville High School, read the Gettysburg Address right before the marching band went into “America the Beautiful.” The audience joined in, perfectly harmonizing with the chorus and band.
The Land of Legend Chorus performed an Armed Forces Medley just before Granville Mayor Melissa Hartfield gave her Memorial Day Address.
The speeches of the day centered around community connection to shared history, and Hartfield reminded the crowd that the Maple Grove Cemetery is a resting place for hundreds of veterans.
“As we pass through these cemeteries, each stone carries a hidden story of someone who had a piece of our history,” Hartfield said. Her remarks focused on the stories of some of those veterans who served the country and were connected to Granville.
After the mayor’s speech concluded, the Granville High School Band performed “God Bless the U.S.A.”
Pastor Pound gave a benediction as a final speech. The Post 398 Color Guard gathered and stood attentively, ready for the rifle salute. The booms pierced the silence of the crowd, a moment reflecting the strength of the veterans and their loved ones. Sam Hannig and Sarah Crestale performed Taps, and the Sons of the American Revolution raised the flag from half-staff.
The cemetery observance served as a perfect solace to honor and remember those who sacrificed their lives for the freedom of the country. For Jennie Lipphardt, the day is about the history.
“It’s for people to remember. Unfortunately a lot of people just don’t know their history,” Lipphardt said. For 152 years and counting, Granville has not forgotten.
Liv Barton writes for TheReportingProject.org, the nonprofit news organization of Denison University’s Journalism program, which is supported by generous donations from readers. Sign up for The Reporting Project newsletter here.