Staff photo / Chris McBride Girl Scouts from Troop 80184 participate in Warren’s Memorial Day parade, walking in celebration and to commemorate the fallen men and women who served our country.

WARREN — The Warren Community Amphitheatre served as a solemn gathering place Monday morning as community members came together to honor fallen veterans in a Memorial Day ceremony, followed by a parade through downtown Warren.

The event, a cornerstone of Trumbull County’s annual remembrance, drew veterans, families and community members to reflect on the sacrifices of those who gave their lives for the nation.

The ceremony, led by U.S. Marine Corps Vietnam veteran and Trumbull County Veterans Service Commission President Allen Briggs as master of ceremonies, began with an invocation by U.S. Army veteran Kevin Patterson. The Trumbull County Disabled Veterans performed a rifle salute, and a wreath was cast into the Mahoning River behind the amphitheater by TVSC Director Cari Delgado to honor sailors lost at sea, a tradition underscoring the day’s deep reverence.

Delgado highlighted the community’s commitment to remembrance.

“It’s always great to see the turnout,” Delgado said. “The community comes together … to honor the memory of the people that we’ve lost.” She noted the significance of 61 photos displayed in front of the amphitheater, each representing a Trumbull County service member killed in the Vietnam War, tying the ceremony to the upcoming arrival of The Wall That Heals, a mobile replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, set to visit Warren today.

James Valesky, a Marine Corps veteran and president of the Warren Heritage Center, spoke passionately about The Wall That Heals, which will be displayed at Packard Music Hall through June 1.

“The Wall That Heals honors the more than 3 million Americans who served in the Vietnam War,” Valesky said, emphasizing its role as a mobile education center that tells the story of the war and its divisive era.

He encouraged volunteers to assist during its visit, noting its significance as the only Ohio stop in 2025.

The keynote address by U.S. Marine Corps Vietnam veteran James V. Rapone focused on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial’s origins, recounting how Army veteran Jan Scruggs spearheaded its creation to heal a divided nation.

“This memorial was not a monument to praise war,” Rapone said. “It was to help heal America and honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.”

He shared the story of Maya Lin’s controversial design, a V-shaped black granite wall bearing 58,390 names, and noted its impact with over 5.5 million annual visitors to the D.C. site.

Medal of Honor recipient Kenneth David was the honored guest, his presence a reminder of the courage and sacrifice Memorial Day commemorates.

Warren Mayor Doug Franklin addressed the crowd, condemning recent vandalism at Oakwood Cemetery, where a memorial bench and headstones were toppled just days before.

“This act is an affront to the memory of those who have passed,” Franklin said, vowing to restore the cemetery’s dignity with community support.

Richard Radich, an Army airborne veteran who served from 1955, shared his reflections on the day.

“Memorial Day is about remembering the ones who didn’t come back, the ones who gave everything for us,” Radich said. “Seeing everyone here, it’s a reminder we’re still connected to them.” His journey to airborne school, marked by perseverance through grueling training jumps, underscored the resilience of those honored.

Among the parade spectators was Sarah Thompson, 38, of Newton Falls, who brought her two children, Emma, 10, and Liam, 7, to watch the procession of veterans, the Warren G. Harding High School Marching Band, and classic military vehicles.

“It’s humbling to see this turnout,” Thompson said. “I brought the kids to learn respect for those who gave their lives and to understand what freedom costs.”