Scott Allen places the wreath at the memorial.

Text and Photos
By Deb Patterson
InkFreeNews

LEESBURG — There was not a cloud in the sky for the annual Leesburg Memorial Day Parade Monday morning, May 26, as the route was lined with spectators long before the parade began.

Downtown, individuals and organizations gathered in preparation for the parade with patriotic music being broadcasted over the PA system by Derek Tenny.

Tom Moore started the days event at 10:30 welcoming everyone to the 2025 festivities. He gave a history of the town, founded 192 years ago by Levi Lee. He explained the gristmill stones displayed at the town square.

“We gather today for the purpose of honoring those men and women who have given their lives so we can live freely,” said Moore. “It’s Memorial Day and we honor those who never came home. The fallen gave everything for their county … Today less than 1% of Americans serve in the armed forces and only about 5% of American have ever worn the uniform. Most of us live free and don’t have any direct connection to war … it’s a consequence of the freedoms we enjoy. Protected by those who are willing to fight and die for them. But that disconnection has possibly made Memorial Day more misunderstood and underappreciated with each passing year.

Scouting America Troop 819 posts the colors before the start of the parade.

“Memorial Day is not about glorifying war, it’s about honoring those who gave up everything so the rest of us could live in peace, prosperity and yes, comfort. It’s about men and women who are friends and family members. Their names never made headlines, but their legacies live on in the quiet grief of gold star families and the unwavering loyalty of those who fraught beside them. So today is a very special day for all Americans wherever they may be,” he concluded.

Following a prayer by Pastor Mike Beezley, Clunette United Methodist Church, the raising of the flag by members of Scouting America Troop 819, the singing of the National Anthem by Bill Keller, taps by Joe Peloza and the Scouts leading the pledge of allegiance, the parade officially began.

The parade featured the sheriff’s office, Scouts, 4-H’ers, local veterans, floats from organizations and businesses, cars, tractors, and golf carts.

Following the parade a service was held for those who have gone before at the Leesburg cemetery. Only a small handful of the hundreds who viewed or participated in the parade gathered.

Services At The Cemetery

Christina Archer welcomes those attending “We have assembled here again this year to pay tribute to the men and women who have served our country in the cause of peace. We again avail ourselves of the opportunity to rededicate ourselves to the service of our country and what it stands for justice, freedom and democracy. We pledge ourselves here today to renewed loyalty to our God and to our Nation.”

Rev. Rob Seewald is the keynote speaker at the cemeteryservice.

Rev. Rob Seewald, pastor of the Leesburg United Methodist Church, who led the opening prayer, gave a short keynote address. He encouraged everyone to take a moment to look around the cemetery at the flags at various tombstones. “Each one of these individuals are someone that we are here today to say thank you too. Someone who loved us even though they didn’t know us. Someone who wanted us to have the absolute best opportunity to move forward and shine brightly in this great world that we’ve been blessed with.”

He asked to think about a verse in Proverbs, where told a good person leaves an inheritance to his children’s children. “Some of these individuals were not blessed with the opportunity to have children because of the sacrifices they made. But each one of us stands here today because of them. Each one of us stands here today with an opportunity to help this world know about the grace, the love and the peace that is possible.” He stated Jesus gave that example when he laid down his life and called us to serve one another.

“I want us to challenge one another to be better than the day before,” he said. “To recognize there are so many issues we could argue over. So many issues we could fight about. We could put labels in front of or behind our names and we can separate ourselves from now until the end of time. Or we can recognize we are all united in one unique way. We’re blessed to live in a land that these men and women died for. We’re blessed with an opportunity to live a life of liberty and grace because of the sacrifices they made. Each one of them would have loved to come home. Each one of them would have loved to live out their life in full here. But they sacrificed it for us. So today, let’s make this day more than just a barbecue day, more than just a great parade day. Let’s make this a day that we put aside the labels where we start loving each other simply because we are brothers and sisters in Christ. Simply because we are men and women who have the absolute privilege and honor to live in a county that these men and women died for.”

The service included the reading of 255 names buried in Leesburg Cemetery, 78 in Oswego Cemetery and six in Clunette Cemetery.

An a cappella presentation of America the Beautiful by Abby Allen was given, the presentation of the wreath at the memorial by Steve Allen, a salute to veterans by volunteer honor guard members Steve Allen, Don Wilczak and Rick Ellis, and the playing of taps by Joe Peloza. It was during the playing of taps that white homing pigeons were released, adding to the commemoration of the day.