Residents of DeGraff and Quincy came together Monday to honor the nation’s fallen service members, sharing both a guest speaker and a morning of Memorial Day observances across the two communities.
The day began in DeGraff, where the annual parade stepped off at 10 a.m.
Participants included several local ball associations, the Riverside Marching Band, and multiple first responder units, all making their way through the village in a show of patriotism and community pride.
Following the parade, attendees gathered at the cemetery, where Logan County Commissioner Mike Yoder delivered remarks reflecting on the meaning of Memorial Day and the sacrifices made by service members and their families.
Yoder shared a moving story about a soldier named “Michael,” who once sat at a family’s dinner table.
The following year, Michael’s seat was empty—he had lost his life in the line of duty.
Yoder noted that for years afterward, the family continued to set a place for him, honoring his memory and the ultimate sacrifice he made.
After the DeGraff service concluded, several groups traveled to Fairview Cemetery in Quincy, where a brief Memorial Day ceremony was held.
The day’s events served as a solemn reminder of the cost of freedom and the importance of preserving the stories and legacies of those who served.
