Page 12
Ann Humphreys
Several hundred people participated in the Radnor Memorial Day Celebration which included the recognition of the Delaware County Bicentennial by local students Faith and Greer Hon carrying the Delaware Country Bicentennial Flag to head the parade.
Having been settled in 1803 by immigrants from Anglesey, Wales, Radnor is the oldest original settlement still in existence in the county. Its Memorial Day program is modeled after one in the Radnor Historic Museum that was used in the 1920’s by the descendants of those early settlers for honoring and recognition of Radnor men who fought in the First World War and all the previous wars starting with the War of 1812.
The day began with a breakfast at the Congregational UCC Church followed by a parade of floats and antique vehicles and machinery as well as some animals.
While the group assembled at the cemetery, the Cyril Scott Pipe Band played as three WWII airplanes flew over in a salute. The colors were presented by the Delaware Hayes ROTC. The Buckeye Valley Alumni Band (many from Radnor) played patriotic songs during the parade and the program.
After the opening invocation by the Congregational UCC minister, the flag salute was led by Grayson Dubanowich, a local 5th grader who is a descendant of the early settlers. It was followed by the singing of “The Star Spangled Banner.” Two other local 5th graders, Curtis Harsh and Austin Harsh, also descendants of early settlers, gave the Constitution Preamble and the Gettysburg Address. A men’s chorus from the Baptist Church sang “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” preceding a talk by County Common Pleas Court Judge Everett H. Krueger.
During the playing of the “Armed Forces Medley” by the band, all the veterans in attendance came forward and were recognized. The Baptist minister gave the benediction followed by taps with its echo over the cemetery.
The service closed with all the children present coming forward to distribute bouquets of flowers to all the veterans’ graves marked with American flags.
A hog roast lunch was available at the Radnor Volunteer Fire Department.
The following is excepted from a note from WSCO member Ann Humphreys, who was born in Radnor:
“As I remember it as a child, there was a parade, a local school band, vocal music from all the good Welsh singers we had then, children’s recitations, and a speech by a local dignitary. It was held in the Baptist Church adjacent to the cemetery until it was burned by arsonists in 1989. It is now held in the cemetery which limits some of the vocal and congregational singing. …Otherwise it has stayed pretty much the same…
The float in the picture was built in 2003 for Radnor’s bicentennial. The children on it were descendants of the early settlers. It has been in many parades since.”
Editor’s note: The Columbus Welsh Singing Society is scheduled to perform during Radnor’s 2009 Memorial Day Celebration.
Don’t forget about the Cardiff Canton Salvation Army Band scheduled to march in the 2009 Tournament of Roses Parade – an article about the band was in the last issue of DT, page 18 – you can find it on WSCO’s website at http://www.centralohiowelsh.org. Click on “Dragon Tales newsletters” and then the link for the July-Sept. 2008 issue.