Community hosts longest-running patriotic parade
Ironton, Ohio, nestles in the Appalachian hills just across the bridge from Russell, Kentucky. The Ohio River turns northwest here as it flows toward Cincinnati, making Ironton the southernmost city in the Buckeye State. Called the largest pig iron center in the world during the 19th Century, Ironton derives its name from pyramid-shaped charcoal furnaces that smelted ore in the nearby forested hollows. The city was also a railroad nexus and once boasted an early NFL team, the Tanks.Ironton residents are proud of their city, but never more so than during the last week of May. Few – if any – communities can boast the patriotism and dedication of Ironton, home of the longest continuously observed Memorial Day parade in the nation. In fact, it is acknowledged as the oldest annual parade in Ohio and the nation.
Quoting a local newspaper: “It’s big, it’s historic, and it’s one of Lawrence County’s and Ironton’s claims to fame.”
The Memorial Day parade is as old as the national observance. The first procession wound its way around the city in 1868, when Union and Confederate soldiers who had died in the Civil War were honored.
This part of Appalachia, although above the Mason-Dixon Line, had plenty of southern sympathizers called Copperheads or Butternuts.
Copperheads were Northern Democrats who opposed the Civil War. The fact that the first parade drew veterans of the Army of the Republic and folks who whistled “Dixie” is notable.
The irony is that the Ohio Underground Railroad also came through this area. Nearby Olive Furnace is on the list of historical preservation sites of the Ohio Underground Railroad Association.
Despite the splinters in the community caused by the Civil War, the Ironton-Lawrence County Memorial Day Parade persisted until it was broadened to pay tribute to all American servicemen who had died in war. Early parades featured yokes of giant oxen and veterans of the Army of the Republic marching in their Civil War uniforms.
As the Ironton parade grew, people began to turn out in thousands to march and watch.
It became an event larger than the host city. Nearby West Virginia and Kentucky cities began to send contingents.
Ironton Mayor Jack Elam remembers when the every school child in the community was required to march, holding flowers in one hand and waving a handkerchief or flag in the other. The kids were given their report cards at the conclusion of the parade.
Significantly, the patriotic event has been held through every period of war and conflict for the past 139 years. Today, the parade and associated festivities highlight an entire weekend and attract people from across the United States.
How large is the parade? Bring a lawn chair. You’ll need a comfortable place to sit because it takes over two hours to view the column, from start to finish.
This year’s parade was organized in 12 divisions, each named in honor of a recently deceased area veteran. Leading the parade were the first and second divisions, permanently named for native son Russell Long, killed in action in Vietnam during 1966, and WW II veteran Joe Williams, a long-time parade committeeman.
First Division included the parade bugler, grand marshal, parade commander, and the governor of Ohio.
Each division contained 50 or more separate parade entries, including floats and units honoring medal winners, POWs, and veterans. In addition, there were units representing veterans’ organizations, active duty military, POWs/MIAs, and Gold Star mothers. The U.S. Army, Navy, Marine, Air Force, National Guard, Coast Guard, and Reserves were represented with marchers and military equipment.
Civil War re-enactors, flag corps, honor guards, military musical ensembles, rifle squads, high school and college bands, military vehicles, church congregations, elected officials, beauty queens, antique cars, Boy and Girl Scouts, horses, wagons, police, fire, and rescue personnel… the list of participants was lengthy, as usual.
Overhead flew F16 fighter jets from the Air National Guard. The downtown streets around the Lawrence County Courthouse seemed to move along with the marchers as thousands of “Old Glory” flags streamed from lampposts, front porches, and windows.
Personal opinions about the Iraq War, feuds between Republicans and Democrats, and partisan politics were put aside for the 139th time as this community gathered to honor the courage and patriotism of American soldiers, past and present.
Said a visiting U.S. Marine Corps staff sergeant who rode on the AMVETS float: “I didn’t expect this much of a parade from a city this size.”
