Memorial Day Parades and Ceremonies around Columbus

Memorial Weekend is often celebrated as the first long weekend of the Summer, when weather has finally warmed up. There are Memorial Day events and ceremonies around Columbus to honor our heroes.

Make sure you take time to remember those who gave their lives for our country this Memorial Day.

photo via Field of Heroes

Westerville Field of Heroes

May 27-30, 2022. Presented by the Rotary Club of Westerville Sunrise. 

Across the street from the Westerville Community Center on Cleveland Avenue is visual display of more than 3,000 American flags. There will be events throughout the weekend, and flags can be purchased to honor a hero. Field is illuminated at night from May 27-30, and is a must-see. Learn more at fieldofheroes.org.

Memorial events at National Veterans Memorial Museum

There will be a series of ceremonies and events at the National Veterans Memorial and Museum and online in the days leading up to, and on Memorial Day. Read more about full programming here, or see highlights below.

Get free admission from Saturday, May 28 – Monday, May 30. Donations accepted to pay it forward to honor Veterans, Gold Star Families and ensure future accessible programming for all.

Memorial Day Virtual Run, Walk, Ruck and Roll 
May 13 – May 30 

“The Eyes of Freedom” Exhibition
May 18 – May 30
The Eyes of Freedom commemorate the 22 fallen Marines and one Navy corpsman of Ohio-based Lima Company L3/25.

USAA Poppy Exhibit
May 19 – June 12
This interactive exhibit was created to memorialize our fallen military service members. By waving their hands in front of the screen, visitors can interact with digital poppies representing the more than 645,000 service members who have lost their lives in military service since World War I.

Veterans Jiu Jistu Seminar
May 28 at 8 am
Join those who died in service to our country this Memorial Day weekend in this special class. Free; registration required.

Rooftop CrossFit Hero Workout
May 28 at 10 am
Clintonville CrossFit will lead us in the CrossFit Hero Workout, “Loredo,” which honors Staff Sergeant Edwardo Loredo, U.S. Army, who was killed in action while fighting in Afghanistan on June 24, 2010. Registration required.

The National Ride for Freedom
May 28 at 10 am
All motorcyclists are welcome to take part in this commemorative ride. Live music, food and beverages will be available starting at 11:30 a.m. Ride starting point: Farrow North Harley-Davidson, 7754 E, OH-37, Sunbury. Registration is $20.

Gold Star Family Candlelight Vigil 
May 29 at 7:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Gold Star Family Candlelight Vigil on Sunday, May 29 to honor families who have lost a loved one in service to our country. The vigil procession will begin on the museum rooftop and travel down to the Soldiers Cross in Memorial Grove. Details here.

Memorial Day Remembrance Ceremony 
May 30 at 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Mark Memorial Day with the annual Remembrance Ceremony starting at 10 a.m. (ET) on the National Veterans Memorial and Museum rooftop. 

Memorial Day events in Grandview 

Memorial Day Service: Thursday, May 26 at 7:30 PM - 8:30 PM @ Memorial Park
All veterans and first responders are invited to participate in the Veteran’s Procession to Memorial Park. If you are a veteran and/or first responder, meet at the Grandview Center (1515 Goodale Blvd.) at 7:00 pm to line up for departure.

Grandview Heights Parade: Saturday, May 28 at 10 am. Includes marching bands, floats and service organizations, as we salute our servicemen and servicewomen. First Ave. between Cambridge Blvd. and Oxley Rd.

Whitehall VFW Post No. 8794 Ceremony and Luncheon

Saturday, May 28. 7 a.m. Flag Placing at Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens. VFW 8794 Post Breakfast at 9 a.m. for flag placing volunteers
Monday, May 30. 11 a.m. Ceremony at Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens. Memorial Day Luncheon on Post at 1 p.m.

City of Powell Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony

Monday, May 30 at 10 am – 12:30 pm. Begins on Grace Dr. and proceeds west. The ceremony is at the Greater Powell Veterans Memorial in Village Green Park. 

Worthington Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony

Monday, May 30 at 10 am. The parade starts at the American Legion Post and ends in Walnut Grove Cemetery at the Circle of Honor, where American Legion Post 239 holds their Memorial Day Service to honor our fallen veterans. See all of the flags marking over 1,300 Veteran’s grave sites in Walnut Grove Cemetery.

Flint Cemetery: Leasure-Blackston Post 239 will be lowering the US flag to half staff, having a 21 gun salute and playing taps at Flint Cemetery, 8187 Flint Road, at approximately 6:00 a.m. on Memorial Day. All are welcome to join them as they honor our fallen veterans. There are over 100 veterans interred at Flint Cemetery.

Dublin Memorial Day Parade and Observance

Monday, May 30, 2022
11 a.m. – Procession through Historic Dublin starting at Riverside Crossing Park and ending at Dublin Cemetery with a wreath throwing ceremony at The Dublin Link pedestrian bridge (new route)
11:30 a.m. – Memorial Day Ceremony at the Dublin Cemetery located at 83 West Bridge Street
Noon – Complimentary community picnic lunch at Monterey Park. Bring blankets and chairs. The general public is invited and encouraged to attend.

Free parking is available at Dublin Community Church, and more parking can be found throughout Historic Dublin.

Green Lawn Abbey Memorial Day Tours

Monday, May 30, 12 pm – 4 pm. Tour the Cemetery and the Abbey to learn about the personal histories of many Columbusites who helped shape our history. Experience the beauty of nature and architecture.

The Cemetery will be grilling complimentary hot dogs and the Abbey will be handing out ice cream and sweets. 
The Cemetery Tour: Explore Huntington Chapel with historian Doreen Uhas Sauer.
The Abbey tour: Learn about the stained glass windows of the Abbey and their preservation with Abbey President, Kate Matheney

Sunbury Memorial Day Flea Market

Monday, May 30, 8 am – 4 pm. Shopping in Sunbury Village Square with vendors offering treasures, crafts, antiques, plants, and food.  Admission for adults and teens: $1.00, children 10 and under are free. Includes access to 80-100 vendors, 5-8 food vendors and a kid’s zone featuring bounce houses, an area to design thank you cards for veterans, and music from our High School Band members

Marysville Memorial Day Parade

Monday, May 30
8:15 a.m. “Lost at Sea” Ceremony at Schwartzkopf Park
9:00 am Parade from Fifth and Plum Street to Oakdale Cemetery
9:30 am Services at Oakdale Cemetery, followed by Catholic Cemetery, VFW Post 3320 – Amrine Cemetery – American Legion Post 79 – VFW Post 3320 on Industrial Parkway – Ceremony near noon

Grove City Memorial Day Parade and Service

Monday, May 30. The American Legion Paschall Post 164 and Veterans of Foreign War 8198 host the Memorial Day service at the Grove City Cemetery, 3605 Grove City Road,  at 11 a.m., Monday, May 30.

The parade steps off at 11 a.m. from Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church and travels down Broadway. There is a short ceremony at City Hall, then the parade continues to Grove City Cemetery for the Grove City Memorial Day service.

Following the service, the American Legion Post 164 is hosting an open house,  3363 McDowell Road, for the remainder of the day. The event is open to the public, includes food and beverages.

Canal Winchester Memorial Day Ceremony

Monday, May 30
VFW Post #10523 will host Canal Winchester’s annual Memorial Day Ceremony at Union Grove Cemetery (400 Winchester Cemetery Rd.) beginning at 10:30 a.m.

The ceremony will feature keynote speaker Chaplain Major Thomas H. Whiteman, Jr., the Wing Chaplain at the 121 Air Refueling Wing of Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base. Other ceremony participants will include Boy Scouts Troop 103, Cub Scouts Troop 103, and the Canal Winchester High School Band.

Immediately following the Canal Winchester Memorial Day Ceremony, the Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts will host a flag retirement ceremony on the cemetery grounds. The public is invited to attend both ceremonies. Lawn chairs or blankets are encouraged for seating.

Lithopolis Memorial Day Celebration and Annual Bloom Township Memorial Day Car Show

Monday, May 30 from 10 am – 5 pm. Visit Lithopolis for Memorial Day events including a Memorial Day service at the Lithopolis Cemetery followed by a community parade at 10 a.m. Then, from 11 to 2 p.m., check out the Wagnalls Memorial Library for a cruise-in featuring a DJ, lawn games, tours, and food!

Ashley Memorial Day Parade

Monday, May 30 at 9 am at Ashley-Union Cemetery. Parade begins at White Lilly.

Galena Memorial Day Service

Monday, May 30 at 1 pm at the Village Square and Cemetery. 

Prairie Township Memorial Day Services

Monday, May 30
Galloway Cemetery: 9:30 a.m. Service conducted by Amvets Post #1928
Alton Cemetery: 12:00 p.m. Service conducted by Camp Chase Post #98 of the American Legion

Taps Across America

Memorial Day, May 30, 2022. The National Moment of Remembrance is an annual event inviting Americans to play taps wherever they are at 3 p.m., Memorial Day, then pause for one minute to remember those who died in military service. Please share your videos on social media and tag #TapsAcrossAmerica

Memorial Day events

Friday, May 24, 2019

Saturday, May 25, 2019

Sunday, May 26, 2019

Monday, May 27, 2019

2021 events; tba for 2022

Pataskala Memorial Day observance

May 31, 2021 Memorial Day Ceremony starting at 10 am at the Pataskala Cemetery. Once completed the ceremony will continue at 11 am at Veterans Green.

Hilliard American Legion/VFW Memorial Day Ceremony

May 31, 2021 at 10 am. Hosted jointly by William R Schnug Memorial Post 614 and VFW Memorial Post 4931. Ceremony is open to the public. 

Granville Memorial Day Parade

May 31, 2021 at 10:30 am. The Granville Post 398 of the American Legion will be presenting its annual Memorial Day Parade followed by the Memorial Day observance at historic Maple Grove Cemetery. Parade starts at 10:30 from Village center and proceeds to Maple Grove for ceremony at 11:00 am. All veterans are invited to join us in the parade procession. The local DAR will be handing out donuts to vets, much as they did as Donut Dollies during WWI and II. The Granville Veterans Memorial will be dedicated. 

Gahanna Memorial Day observance: TBA 2022 at 1 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Park, 73 W. Johnstown Road. The community is invited to remember all those who fought in service to our country.

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