2026 Memorial Day Parade & Ceremony will honor Fallen Service Members

By Chuck Gibson (Stephanie Watson, City of Loveland, contributed to this story)

LOVELAND, OHIO (May 20, 2026) – This from the City of Loveland: The City of Loveland’s Veterans Committee invites the community to join the 2026 Memorial Day Program on Monday, May 25, beginning at 9:00 a.m. Residents are encouraged to show their patriotism and honor the men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to the United States.

The day will begin with a community parade stepping off at 9:00 a.m. from Loveland Elementary School, located at 600 Loveland Madeira Road. Community organizations, civic groups, and residents are welcome to participate in the parade; interested participants are asked to register online in advance.

The Memorial Day Parade & Ceremonies are a hallowed tradition here in the City of Loveland where it is held annually to honor and remember our fallen service members. This year it takes on an added feature as a part of the year-long City of Loveland celebration of our 150th anniversary in conjunction with the nation’s 250 year birthday celebration.

The official launch of several special planned events celebrating Loveland’s Sesquicentennial took place over the weekend despite rain postponing a Vintage Base Ball clash featuring the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame 1869 Red Stockings taking on the Loveland Frog Legs Base Ball Club on Saturday, May 16th. Not to be deterred, the city celebrated with several family fun events under sunny blue skies on Sunday, May 17th.

(NOTE: The Vintage Base Ball game is being rescheduled – watch the city social media pages for details)

The city expressed gratitude to all who joined in the festivities on Sunday via the website on Monday. Here is the text of that post:

Thank you to everyone who joined us on Sunday to celebrate the City of Loveland’s 150th Anniversary! From the performances and activities to the community spirit shared throughout the day, it was a memorable celebration of our city’s rich history and bright future. We’re grateful to all who attended, participated, volunteered, and helped make this milestone so special. Here’s to 150 years of Loveland!

Hundreds of people enjoyed strolling through the 10 AM to 2 PM car show in Historic Downtown on the parking lot between the bike trail and city hall. Classic muscle cars from 50’s thru 70’s and beyond dominated the show, but earlier antiques and some later model cars gave the show something for everyone. There was even a Special Loveland 150^th Bourbon Bottle Raffle – first 50 winners were selected Sunday with two more drawings coming up as the year goes on to select another 100 Special edition Loveland Bourbon Bottle winners.

Add to that the Talent Contest, Pie-baking contest and the big birthday cake and there is no doubt the city celebration got off to a great start for everyone involved. Mayor Kathy Bailey confirmed the notion the city celebration got off to a good start and looking forward to future events still to come with her social media post Monday:

“What a great weekend in Loveland,” said Mayor Bailey. “Well done to everyone involved! Stay tuned for future events to celebrate Loveland’s 150th anniversary!”

  

Next up is the Memorial Day parade and ceremony honoring our fallen service members. Here are details:  

Parade Route & Road Closures

Road closures will be in effect approximately 8:45 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. during the parade. The route is as follows:

• Departs Loveland Elementary School
• Travels north on Loveland-Madeira Road (toward Quilter’s Studio)
• Turns right onto West Loveland Avenue (toward Historic Downtown)
• Turns left onto Riverside Drive, ending at the Loveland Veterans Memorial

Parking Information

• No parking will be permitted at Tufts Schildmeyer or Schutte’s Cleaners
• Veterans Memorial parking lot will be reserved for handicap parking only
• No parking will be allowed along Riverside Drive
• Residents are encouraged to consult the City’s parking map for nearby public parking locations

Immediately following the parade, a Memorial Day ceremony will be held at the Loveland Veterans Memorial, located at the intersection of West Loveland Avenue and Riverside Drive. The ceremony will feature remarks from guest speaker Chris Cravens. A military flyover is scheduled for approximately 9:45 a.m.

Guest Speaker: Chris Cravens

Chris Cravens was born in Bethel, Ohio, and raised in Cincinnati, where he graduated from Turpin High School before enlisting in the United States Marine Corps. He served eight years on active duty as an infantry Marine and later worked as a federal investigator with NCIS. During his deployments from 2004 to 2012, Cravens saw combat in Fallujah and Ramadi, Iraq, as well as the Sangin Valley and Kajaki in Afghanistan.

His leadership and actions in combat earned him the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with Combat “V” for valor, as well as two Combat Action Ribbons. He holds a bachelor’s degree in social and criminal justice and an MBA in Public Administration. Cravens is also a published author of Adjacent to Marine Corps Greatness: A Memoir of Servant Leader.

Drawing on the discipline and mission-focused mindset developed through military service, Cravens has founded and led companies across the medical, talent acquisition, fitness, and defense industries. He is the Founder and Executive Director of the 3C Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to strengthening communities through servant leadership training, veteran storytelling, and programs honoring fallen service members and supporting Gold Star families.

Cemetery Visits

The community is also invited to participate in Memorial Day cemetery observances beginning at 11:15 a.m.:

• Maineville Cemetery: 11:15 a.m.
• Union Cemetery: 12:00 p.m.
• Kerr Cemetery: 12:30 p.m.

Community Picnic

The day will conclude with a community picnic at 2:00 p.m. at American Legion Post 256, located at 897 Oakland Road. Residents are invited to gather in fellowship and continue honoring those who served.

The City of Loveland encourages all residents to attend and take part in this meaningful day of remembrance.