World War I, Memorial Day, and Small-Town Ohio

By Paul LaRue, Ohio World War I Commemoration Committee

May 25, 2018

The 2017 Memorial Day Procession in New Holland, Ohio. The American Legion post in New Holland was named for the four New Holland men who lost their lives in WWI. Photo courtesy of Paul LaRue.

The origin of Memorial Day dates back to shortly after the Civil War, when Decoration Day was established. My earliest memories of Memorial Day are of World War I commemorations in rural, southern Ohio. My mother would take my brothers and I to the Memorial Day service at a nearby small town. Each year an elderly woman – I believe a widow of a World War I soldier – would slowly walk to the podium, unfold a faded sheet of paper, and begin reading: "In Flanders Fields the poppies blow / between the crosses row on row."

As we commemorate the service and sacrifice of our nation's veterans on Memorial Day, some of the connections to World War I have faded. The World War I Centennial provides an opportunity to reconnect with Memorial Day. Memorial Day commemorations in small towns and villages in Ohio, and around the country, are unique. Small communities often share key components of the commemoration (e.g. Honor Guard and high school bands). This is accomplished by staggering the times of the events. Local Veterans organizations generally organize the events.

This year, I will be participating in three events on Memorial Day, located in Frankfort, Clarksburg, and New Holland. These three communities have a combined population of less than 2500. The ceremony in Frankfort begins at 10:00 a.m., and the Honor Guard that will be present is from the Frankfort American Legion Post #483. The Frankfort American Legion Post #483 is the Joseph E. White Post. Joseph White served in the Rainbow Division, was killed in action, and was a recipient of the Croix de Guerre for bravery.

The next community, the smallest of the three, is Clarksburg with an 11:00 a.m. service. Clarksburg lost two of its sons in World War I service to pneumonia. Bugler Glen Ater, also from the Rainbow Division, was a recipient of the Silver Star for gallantry in serving as a trench runner. Glen Ater is buried in Clarksburg.

My last commemoration of the day will be with New Holland. The New Holland American Legion ARCH Post #477 was named by taking the first letter from the first name of the four sons New Holland lost in World War I. The "C" in the acronym ARCH is for Clyde Zeller, killed in action September 30, 1918, and buried in France. The New Holland ceremony is now organized and coordinated by the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #8041, with assistance by the Frankfort Honor Guard. The procession in New Holland starts from the center of the Village at 12:30 p.m. Any and all, young and old, some on tractor, some on foot, proceed from the center of town to the cemetery. The community has decorated the graves of all Veterans, following the traditions set in most communities, large and small.

The ceremonies are brief in length, but impactful. Following the services, Veterans and members of the community linger to visit, and often walk around looking for the graves of family and friends. And oh yes, I forgot to mention – I will conclude my comments at each by reading a poem that begins: “In Flanders Fields the poppies blow / between the crosses row on row.”