New Philadelphia 2025 Memorial Day Program

The New Philadelphia Veterans Council Coordinating Committee is presenting its annual Memorial Day service on Monday, May 26, at 11:00 AM on the Courthouse Plaza in downtown New Philadelphia.

We are honored to have as our guest speaker for the 2025 Memorial Day program Lieutenant Colonel Malcolm S. Ritchie, US Army Reserve, Retired.  Colonel Ritche received his commission through the Kent State University ROTC Program.  He has served in multiple staff and command positions as an infantry officer and civil affairs officer.  His operational deployments include 3 tours of duty in Iraq, two joint training exercises with the Jordanian Army and a military exchange program with the Russian Army.  Colonel Ritchie is a graduate of the US Army Command and General Staff College and is the recipient of the Bronze Star Medal.  In his civilian life, Colonel Ritchie worked for 27 years for Ohio Central and RJ Corman RR Companies as a locomotive engineer and safety officer.  He currently serves as a Red Cross supervisor for Disaster Services.  He and his wife Janelle reside in Dover

We are blessed again this Memorial Day with the patriotic participation and support of our local New Philadelphia school community.  The New Philadelphia High School Marching Quaker Band, under the direction of Mr. Jeff Furbay, will launch the program with the playing of our national anthem, The Star-Spangled Banner.  Student vocalists from the NPHS Delphian Chorale, under the direction of Kristi Prucha, will perform Mansions of the Lord and The Lord Bless and Keep You.  Welty Middle School students, under the direction of Sharon Ricklic, will demonstrate the proper folding of Old Glory, explaining the meaning of each fold.  Welty students will also recite In Flanders Field and America’s Answer and President Abraham Lincoln’s immortal Gettysburg Address.

Volleys and Taps will be rendered in honor of those brave men and women who served in the United States Armed Forces and made the ultimate sacrifice in the defense of our nation.  The three rifle volleys signify their devotion to Duty, Honor and Country.  Taps, a hauntingly beautiful bugle call composed of just 24 notes, has come to symbolize all the sacrifices and hardships made and endured by all of America’s men and women in uniform, past and present, symbolizing the end of their call to duty, and the beginning of their eternal rest.  The volleys will be rendered the New Philadelphia VFW Post 1445 Military Honors Team while echo Taps will be sounded by musicians from the New Philadelphia High School MQB.

VFW Post 1445 invites everyone to attend it’s traditional hot dog and hamburger lunch at the Post Canteen following the service. In the event of severe weather, the Memorial Day program will be moved to the banquet hall at the New Philadelphia VFW Post located at 441 Park Avenue NW in New Philadelphia.