Correspondent photo / John Patrick Gatta Members of the Youngstown Air Reserve Station’s Civil Air Patrol raise the flag while they are saluted by Rick Lily, commander of the Girard American Legion Honor Guard, during the Veterans Day ceremony at the war memorial near Girard City Hall on Tuesday evening.

GIRARD — Honoring the local men and women who served in the military, the annual Veterans Day parade and ceremony took place Tuesday evening in the city’s downtown.

This parade began in 1936 on Armistice Day. In 1954, the national commemoration was renamed Veterans Day, but the Girard event predates the change.

Tuesday’s event started with a procession past the city building to the Officer Justin A. Leo Memorial Bridge for a ceremony and then to the second service at the war memorial in front of the city building.

The Girard Honor Guard, members of the Youngstown Air Reserve Station’s Civil Air Patrol and the Girard High School marching band led the solemn parade to the bridge. Girard police vehicles and a fire truck escorted the procession.

Kevin Hubler of Girard, a United States Army veteran who acted as emcee of the event, said the service was held with a purpose in mind.

“To honor, respect and thank all veterans who have served and protected our great nation. Today and every day is the day to show all these brave men and women who are our protectors in freedom, our humble gratitude,” he said.

Rev. Rhonda Gallagher of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church started the bridge ceremony with words of reflection about those who served our country. She commented on the windy, cold night, which didn’t deter nearly 100 residents from showing up to honor local veterans.

Jeff and Aimee Krause of Girard attended the parade for several reasons.

“Our daughter, Riley, is a senior saxophone player in the Girard High School marching band and we came to support her and the veterans of our community,” Aimee Krause said.

Her husband, Jeff, said his uncle from Warren was in the United States Army for 35 years. Attending was a way to honor him, too.

Brynna Perry, a senior at Girard High School and a member of the marching band, played taps as Chuck Leak, first-Vice President of the Army Navy Garrison 422, and Carol Stewart, past president of the Ladies Auxiliary of the garrison, cast a balsam wreath into the Mahoning River.

Participants in the ceremony and those in attendance walked in silence from the bridge to the war memorial at city hall.

Sheila Cornell, president of the ladies auxiliary of the Girard American Legion Post 235, and her husband, George Cornell, Sergeant at Arms of the Girard American Legion Post 235, placed a wreath at the memorial.

Members of the Civil Air Patrol raised the American flag while the marching band played the national anthem.

Mayor Mark Zuppo, who has veterans in his family, spoke to those in attendance.

“Tonight we gather to honor the brave men and women who served in our armed forces,” he said. “Veterans Day is a time to reflect on the sacrifices made by these individuals to protect our freedoms and to ensure the safety of our nation. Veterans do all the hard work and we reap the benefits of their labor to protect us. I have nothing but respect for our veterans and I will be here every year for this ceremony.”

Victoria McKinstry brought her 8-year-old son, Logan, to the parade and veterans service.

“I wanted to support my dad, George McKinstry. He is a member of the Girard Honor Guard and I want my son to know about the veterans and the sacrifice they made for our country,” she said.

“Never forget,” Pastor Rhonda Gallagher of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church said.