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Memorial Day parade leads to ceremony at Walnut Grove



For more than a century, Worthington’s American Legion Post 239 has honored its veterans each Memorial Day.

Not even a once-in-a-century pandemic derailed the tradition which continues at 10 a.m. May 29, Memorial Day, with a parade from Leasure-Blackston Post 239 of the American Legion to Walnut Grove Cemetery.

“The city said we couldn’t have a parade,” during the pandemic, said Glenn Luksik, post commander. While a traditional parade was not to be in 2020 or 2021, American Legion members would not allow the century-old tradition of a Memorial Day ceremony at the Village Green in old Worthington to be interrupted.

At 6 a.m. on Memorial Day 2020, a small contingent arrived at the Village Green and lowered the United States flag to half-staff in honor of America’s veterans.

May 29, and for the 104th consecutive year since the United States Congress chartered Worthington’s American Legion post in 1919, members will lower the flag at the Village Green to half-staff to honor the men and women from Worthington who died serving in the U.S. armed forces.

They include Leasure, the first Worthington man known to be killed in the Great War (later known as World War I), and Blackston, the first Worthington man known to be killed in World War II.

Unlike Veterans Day, observed each Nov. 11 and set aside to recognize America’s living veterans, Memorial Day is dedicated to remember those who died in active service to their country, and deceased veterans. Its origins trace back to the end of the American Civil War and it first was formally recognized as Decoration Day in 1868.

Following the 6 a.m. ceremony on Monday, May 29, at the Village Green, Post 239 members will travel to four other cemeteries in Worthington and Sharon Township, and Sharon Memorial Hall, to perform similar ceremonies. They then return to Leasure-Blackston Post 239, 700 Morning St., in historic Worthington.

After a 10 a.m. ceremony at the post, Worthington’s Memorial Day parade will step off, marching from Post 239 to Walnut Grove Cemetery, 5561 Milton Ave., in Worthington. Marchers will head west on Dublin-Granville Road, then parade down High Street to the city’s southern border and to the entrance of the cemetery.

The Memorial Day ceremony at Walnut Grove Cemetery will include a 21-gun salute, the rendering of Taps, and comments from several dignitaries. A flyover by a squadron of F-16 jets from the 180th Fighter Wing of the Ohio Air National Guard, stationed at the Toledo Air National Guard Base, also is planned.

Flags at each location where they are to be lowered in the morning on Memorial Day are to be raised to full staff at noon, concluding the Memorial Day ceremonies.

The grand marshal of Worthington’s 2023 Memorial Day parade is Courtney Chapman.

Chapman, 93, has resided in Worthington since 1959 and is a veteran of the U.S. Navy and the Army National Guard.

“It was a surprise and an honor,” Chapman said about learning he is to lead the Memorial Day parade in a blue convertible 2008 Ford Mustang.

While a student at the University of Illinois, Chapman enlisted in the U.S. Navy.

After qualifying at flight school, Chapman was among the last to pilot a seaplane known as the Martin P5M Marlin.

“But then I wanted to fly a helicopter (and) you can’t do that in the Navy.”

Chapman enlisted in the Army National Guard where he served for more than 20 years until he retired in 1984. While serving, he was an assistant commandant, training personnel at Officer Candidates School.

As a civilian, Chapman worked for the Ohio Emergency Management Agency and the Federal Emergency Management Agency and provided direction to the Columbus Department of Public Safety concerning the kinds of helicopters and pilots selected for the Columbus Division of Police air unit.

Chapman has one daughter, living in Seattle, two grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. His son passed away in 2015.

Chapman served on Worthington City Council for 16 years across several decades and also made a large impact on the community through his membership on the Municipal Planning Commission, Community Relations Commission and the local cemetery board.

His wife, Barbara, served on Dublin City Council and is co-founder of the Dublin Irish Festival.

They reside in Worthington.

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