New Philadelphia Memorial Day service is set for May 26
Lt. Col. Malcolm S. Ritchie
The New Philadelphia Veterans Council Coordinating Committee will host its annual Memorial Day service Monday, May 26 at 11 a.m. at the courthouse in downtown New Philadelphia.
The committee is made up of members from American Legion Post 139, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1445 and Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 857, with support from the Tuscarawas County Veterans Service Office.
Lt. Col. Malcolm S. Ritchie, U.S. Army Reserve, retired, will serve as the guest speaker. Ritchie received his commission through the Kent State University ROTC program and served as both an infantry officer and civil affairs officer. His deployments include three tours in Iraq, joint training exercises with the Jordanian Army and a military exchange program with the Russian Army. He is a graduate of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College and a recipient of the Bronze Star Medal.
In civilian life Ritchie worked 27 years as a locomotive engineer and safety officer for Ohio Central and RJ Corman railroad companies. He now serves as a supervisor for Red Cross Disaster Services. He and his wife Janelle reside in Dover.
The program will feature participation from the New Philadelphia school community. The New Philadelphia High School Marching Quaker Band, under the direction of Jeff Furbay, will perform the national anthem. Student vocalists from the NPHS Delphian Chorale, led by Kristi Prucha, will perform “Mansions of the Lord” and “The Lord Bless and Keep You.” Welty Middle School students, under the direction of Sharon Ricklic, will demonstrate the folding of the American flag and recite “In Flanders Field,” “America’s Answer” and the “Gettysburg Address.”
Volleys and taps will be presented in memory of service members who made the ultimate sacrifice. The three rifle volleys, rendered by the New Philadelphia VFW Post 1445 Military Honors Team, symbolize duty, honor and country. Taps and echo taps will be performed by members of the high school band.
VFW Post 1445 also announced its Hometown Hero Banner program will continue for another year. In partnership with the City of New Philadelphia, new banners will replace the existing ones in the city center. The old banners will be relocated to the Chuck Moorehead Memorial Garden at VFW Post 1445. The program is open to all Tuscarawas County veterans. Families can have a banner made by visiting VFW Post 1445 with a sharp, nonreturnable photograph of the veteran in uniform and basic service details. The cost is covered by the VFW.
Following the service, VFW Post 1445 will host a hot dog and hamburger lunch at the Post Canteen.
In the event of severe weather, the ceremony will be held at the banquet hall at VFW Post 1445, located at 441 Park Ave. NW in New Philadelphia.