Veterans Day Ceremony To Be Held November 11 In Lakewood

LAKEWOOD, OH — Lakewood's annual Veterans Day ceremony will be held November 11 at Veterans Memorial in Lakewood Park. This year's keynote speaker is Command Sergeant Major Michael Gedeon, who has more than 36 years of service in the Active and Army Reserve.

The ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. and will pay tribute to the men and women who served our nation in the armed forces. The event will begin with the presentation of colors, followed by the National Anthem, which will be performed by the Four Vet Quartet.

After the opening, Gedeon will deliver the keynote address.

Gedeon entered the Active Army in June 1983. Following basic combat training at Fort Sill, and advanced individual training at Fort Gordon, he was assigned to the 1st Battalion in Kaiserslautern, West Germany. He then served in the 101st Airborne Division.

After leaving the Active Army, he joined the US Army Reserve and served in HHC, 2nd Psychological Operations Group headquartered in Parma. He was promoted to Sergeant Major in February 2013.

Gedeon has been deployed to Haiti, Bosni and Iraq. He has won numerous awards for his service, including Bronze Star Medal (1 OLC), Meritorious Service Medal (1 OLC), Army Commendation Medal (4 OLC) Army Achievement Medal (1 OLC),Joint Service Achievement Medal, Reserve Components Achievement Medal (6th Award), Defense Service Medal (2nd Award), and many more.

Gedeon is now a business analyst with the law firm of Baker Hostetler LLP. He has worked there for more than three decades. He lives in Westpark.

This year's Veterans Day program will also include performances by the Lakewood High School Band, a poem by Bill Knittle and a 21-gun salute by the Joint Veterans Honor Guard.

The ceremony is free and open to the public. Doughnuts and coffee will be offered following the event in the Women's Club Pavilion in Lakewood Park.