Memorial Day services: Dover, Twin City, Sugarcreek
DOVER – The annual Dover Memorial Day Service will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Maple Grove Cemetery by American Legion Post 205. The Dover High School Marching Band will get the event start by marching to the cemetery from Dover High School at 9:45 a.m. The high school’s Ars Nova singers will perform, and students will read Flander’s Field and the Gettysburg Address. The guest speaker will be the First Vice Commander of the Ohio American Legion Gary Cox.
The Twin City Memorial Day services will take place Monday morning at six locations:
- 8:00 at St. Mary’s Cemetery
- 8:30 at Haverfield Park
- 9:00 at Dennison Depot
- 10:00 at Civil War Memorial
- 11:00 at New Soldier’s Plot
- 11:30 a.m. Newport Methodist Church.
The Claymont Band will provide music. The guest speaker is retired Judge Brad Hillyer.
SUGARCREEK AREA:
Memorial Day services, sponsored by Homer Weiss Post
494, of the American Legion, Sugacreek, have been
scheduled for Monday, May 25, 2026, Post Commander
Linda Stefanov announced today.
The Post Honor’s Team is planning to conduct a
ceremony at 7:45 am at the Veteran’s Memorial in
Walnut Creek. The team will conduct honors at the
Dundee Cemetery at approximately 8:30-8:40 am.
Sugarcreek ceremonies at Eastlawn Cemetery at
9:15-9:30 am. There will be a short ceremony at 10:30
am at Union Hill Cemetery, at the grave of Homer Weiss,
for all veterans buried there. Post 494 will then go to
Ragersville Cemetery. A service will also be held in Baltic
at 10:45 am.
Jason E. Thornton, Tuscarawas County Veterans Service
Office Director, will be the featured speaker at the
Sugarcreek services. Thornton has worked in the office
since April 2017 and was named director in January 2026.
Thornton served in the Marine Corps for 20 years. He
retired as a Chief Warrant Officer 3 as the Director of
Disbursing School, Marine Corps Financial Management
School, Camp Lejeune, NC in August 2013.
Thornton is a officer in the Tuscarawas VFW and a
member of the Newcomerstown American Legion. He
enjoys golfing and camping with his family in his spare
time. He works with veteran non-profit organizations
that focus on supporting the mental and well-being of
veterans.
Also participating at Sugarcreek will be the Garaway High
School Band, Boy and Girls Scouts. Post Commander
Stefanov and Post Chaplain JR Bitikofer. Two students
from Miller Ave School will give the Gettysburg Address
and In Flanders’ Field. The students are McKinley Raber,
who parents are Jacob & Karley Raber and Baxton Troyer,
whose parents are James & Kendra Troyer. Placing the
Medal of Honor flag at the grave of Militon
Blickensderfer will be Civil War reenactor Franklin
Hershberger and family.
Post Commander Stefanov invities all citizens to
participate at the Memorial Day services. Post 494 offer
flags for sale for those wanting to purchasing one