Community honors veterans and remembers fallen heroes

The Greater Dayton Mayors and Managers monthly meeting took place on May 8th in Centerville, featuring Montgomery County probate court judge David Brannen as the guest speaker. The next meeting is scheduled for September 11th in Xenia, while the parks board will convene on June 5th at Veterans Memorial Park, where a dedication ceremony for a military flag walkway will honor longtime parks board member Daryl Rhodes, who contributed nearly 40 years to the park system.

The meeting also highlighted the annual Memorial Day ceremony held at Veterans Memorial Park on May 27th, with gratitude expressed towards the Lions Club and Jim Williams for sponsoring the event. The significance of June 6th, marking the 80th anniversary of D-Day, was discussed, emphasizing the sacrifices made during the invasion, which resulted in the deaths of 4,004 Allied soldiers, including 2,502 Americans.

Additionally, the Miami Military Institute Committee met on May 28th to discuss park rules and monument placements, with their next meeting set for June 25th. The council congratulated Valley View High School spring sports athletes for their achievements, particularly the girls track team for winning the SWBL for the third consecutive year.

In closing remarks, condolences were offered to the Kazarek family following the unexpected loss of Mark Kazarek, a longtime friend and community member. The meeting concluded with reminders about upcoming cemetery board meetings and the availability of the senior center for special events.