May 21, 2025
By Eve Copeland

American Legion Post 283 invites the community to join in solemn remembrance this Memorial Day, Monday, May 26, as they honor the brave men and women who gave their lives in service to the United States Armed Forces.

The day of tribute will begin at 9:00 a.m. at Violet Cemetery (180 E. Columbus St.), where the Legion’s Auxiliary will lay a ceremonial wreath. The Legion’s Honor Guard will follow with full military honors, including a traditional rifle salute and the playing of Taps. Members of local BSA Scout troops will assist in raising the flag in recognition of those who served.

Following the service, members of the Pickerington Police Department and Violet Township Fire Department will join a procession to Victory Park (Lockville Road). There, Pickerington Mayor Lee Gray will offer remarks in honor of the occasion and the sacrifices of local service members.

At 10:30 a.m., the Honor Guard will conduct another military ceremony at Glen Rest Cemetery (8029 E. Main St., Reynoldsburg), the final resting place of the Post’s namesake, David Johnston—the only Pickerington High School student killed in action during the Vietnam War. Additional tributes will be paid to Marine Terry Parsons, a fellow serviceman connected to Johnston’s company, and Dustin Durga, who died on May 8, 2005 during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Complementing the day’s ceremonies, a visual tribute will be displayed beside the Legion’s pavilion: a field of red pinwheels symbolizing Flanders Fields, with each pinwheel representing a member of the U.S. Armed Forces—past or present. For information on how to contribute, visit Help Veterans, Donate a Pinwheel – Pickerington Online.

In addition to Memorial Day events, the Legion continues to welcome the public to its monthly Steak Night, held on the last Friday of every month from 6:00–8:00 p.m. For $18, guests enjoy a hearty steak dinner, complete with potato, salad, and dessert—offering both great food and an opportunity to support local veterans.