Memorial Day wreath-laying ceremony honors Ohio service members at Statehouse
Secretary of State Frank LaRose honors three Ohio service members killed in March during Operation Epic Fury at annual Statehouse ceremony.
COLUMBUS, OHIO — State officials and military leaders gathered at the Ohio Statehouse for the annual Memorial Day wreath-laying ceremony, paying tribute to fallen service members, including three Ohioans killed earlier this year during overseas operations.
Secretary of State Frank LaRose, a member of the Ohio Army National Guard, honored three service members who died on March 12 as part of Operation Epic Fury. LaRose was serving overseas when he learned of their deaths.
“I remember going into a team meeting and telling my teammates that some of our fellow Ohioans had made the ultimate sacrifice,” LaRose said during the ceremony.
Annual Tradition Continues
The ceremony represents a longstanding collaboration between Ohio’s governor and state leaders working alongside military officials to recognize service members who lost their lives in the line of duty. The event serves as the state’s formal observance of Memorial Day.
LaRose’s dual role as both a state official and active National Guard member brought personal significance to this year’s ceremony, as he had been deployed when the March incident occurred.
Operation Epic Fury Casualties Remembered
The three Ohio service members killed in March were specifically recognized during the wreath-laying portion of the ceremony. Their deaths occurred during Operation Epic Fury, though additional details about the operation were not provided during the event.
The annual ceremony underscores Ohio’s commitment to honoring military service and sacrifice, bringing together civilian and military leadership to ensure fallen service members are not forgotten.
State officials have maintained this Memorial Day tradition as a way to publicly acknowledge the ultimate sacrifice made by Ohio residents serving in the nation’s armed forces.
