(WKBN) – Monday marked Veterans Day, and local events were held to recognize the sacrifices made by those in the armed forces.
Monday morning, hundreds of people gathered in Warren at First Presbyterian Church on Mahoning Avenue.
After a rifle salute and the playing of Taps, the parade kicked off.
Floats and vehicles were decorated with a patriotic theme, and several veterans rode along.
In Columbiana, ceremonies were held at both the high school and middle school.
Students were joined by veterans from the community and their families for a morning of appreciation. They enjoyed breakfast and then were honored with a slide show presentation.
Megan Cowan is the music director for choirs and has organized this event for over 20 years.
She hopes it inspires the students.
“That is definitely the hope, that it inspires them, helps them understand that patriotism, being proud to be an American is not a bad thing. It’s not a negative thing in this day and age to be proud of where you are from, to be proud of this country, to be proud of the men and women who served and are doing an important job for our country,” Cowan said.
The program included a keynote address by Bill Johnson, president of Youngstown State University. He entered the U.S. Air Force in 1973 and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel after a distinguished military career of more than 26 years.
Brian Oehlbeck contributed to this report.
