Memorial Day observance set at Clay High School

The annual Memorial Day observance hosted by Clay High School alumni and the Greater Toledo Chapter of the Vietnam Veterans of America will be held May 30 at 11 a.m. at the high school’s Memorial Stadium.
Sgt. First Class George Sternberg (Clay, 1965), who earned the Green Beret distinction in the Vietnam War, will deliver the keynote address.
“SFC Sternberg served on special forces teams that undertook clandestine missions in Laos, Cambodia, and North Vietnam while serving in the Army, in Vietnam during 1967-68. Sworn to maintain secrecy of their missions for up to 50 years, SFC Sternberg knows, first hand, the sacrifices made by members of the Armed Forces and the importance of never forgetting those who have given their life while serving,” said Jerry Eversman (Clay, 1977), who chaired the Oregon Vietnam Memorial Committee in 2007-08.
Eversman will be master of ceremonies at the event. Captain Gene Shurtz, U.S. Army retired, will lead the Vietnam Veterans detail.
Each year the Memorial Day Observance at Clay High School involves the placement of memorial wreaths at the site's World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, and Defense of Freedom Memorials.
Eversman said he and a group of volunteers are looking for any World War II or Korean War veterans who may reside in the Oregon, Jerusalem Township or Harbor View area (or attended Clay High School) and would be willing to attend and place the wreaths at either the WWII or Korean War memorials.
“There are so few World War II and Korean War veterans who are able to present the honors due to their advanced age, so if there are any veterans of those wars in our community, and able to, even with some assistance, we'd love to include them in our ceremony,” he said.
Eversman can be reached at 419-266-7776.
Volunteers to help set up and take down chairs for the ceremony are also needed and any veterans who would like to take part in the ceremony can also call Eversman.
The ceremony is attended by family members of the fallen service men and women.
Eversman said the ceremony has always been concluded within one hour. Veterans attending are encouraged to wear their caps showing their military service.