David Miller is the Publisher of Loveland Magazine and a Vietnam Combat Veteran
COVID-or-not – it felt imperative to somehow have a Memorial Day Service in Loveland
by David Miller
Monday marks the nation’s most significant holiday, so it should not go without remembrance. For many, it’s quite sobering and you may want to think twice about saying, “Happy Memorial Day” if you want to avoid blank awkward stares.
Traditionally the area has annual gatherings with speeches given on the stage of the Loveland Veterans’ Memorial or at the monument at Veterans’ Memorial Plaza in Home of the Brave Park, however because of COVID 19 and an Ohio ban of large gatherings the annual Memorial Day ceremonies were canceled this year. Before the Loveland Memorial was built in the West Loveland Historic District the event was held on the lawn in front of the Loveland Elementary School.
Given the National Holiday’s significance, because without the ultimate, life-giving sacrifice of young men and women there would be no other holidays celebrated in this country, including Independence Day, Christmas, Easter, or Labor Day, it felt imperative to somehow have a Memorial Day observance non-the-less, COVID-or-not.
I didn’t do too much head-scratching before I remembered Ryan Linday’s Memorial Day address in 2017 because it was a very good one – the best one of my recollection. Ryan is a “third-generation Veteran” and his uncle died in Vietnam. Ryan quickly agreed to record a message and brought Steve Bow to play taps.
I also remembered young Paul Laufersweiler the eighth-grade student from St. Columban School who read a speech at last November’s Veterans Day service in Loveland, The service is put on by students who walk from their school to the Veterans’ Memorial each fall to lay wreaths and honor current and past veterans. So, I contacted his mom Stephanie who I also met that day and asked her if Paul would like to record a speech for this year’s Memorial Day. Almost immediately she responded, “Just tell us where to meet you.”
Much of the morning that Ryan, Steve, and I spent while at the Chapel at Union Cemetery in Symmes Township centered around a conversation about how many more Veterans in recent years have died by suicide than in battlefield combat. Truthfully, it was Steve and Ryan doing the lamenting with me just listening. They remembered those lives with sobriety and respect for their pain and suffering, their endless dark days, and the families in these recent years who lost their Veteran but never received a Gold Star to put in the home’s window.
To those numerous families in Loveland I want you to know that the loss of these young souls and your pain was memorialized with quiet somber reflection at our three-person Memorial Day service at the cemetery yesterday.
Monday, Ryan and Steve will visit other local cemeteries and return to Union Cemetery to lay wreaths and Steve will play Taps to honor the greatest of our community’s heroes – including yours.
When I was with Paul and his mom on Friday to record Paul’s speech we didn’t chat about such somber subjects – I don’t have those things in common with the young man. Our conversation was about Paul’s promising future and his dreams. I believe we all have a responsibility to Paul to turn them into reality. Thank you Paul for recognizing at such a young age who it was that came before you who allows the possibility of your aspirations.
Let’s make a mission statement after hearing Paul’s last sentence of his speech – to make it so for him and all of our children. To make is so for all the Gold Star Families and those who did not receive the Gold Star but deserve it as much as anyone.
We really must make Paul a promise that we will make this country and community live up to the promise now laid at our feet, by so many lost lives who held the same dreams and potential as he has.
This photo was taken when Paul read a speech last November on Veterans Day
Meet Paul Laufersweiler
Paul just graduated from eighth grade at St. Columban school and will be attending Loveland High School in the Fall. He has already successfully auditioned to be in the marching and symphonic bands. He has two sisters, Emily still attending St. Columban as a sixth-grader and Amy who will be a junior at LHS who is in the Show Choir.
Paul said he is interested in studying science, however, he is also really interested in learning more about communicating so he might be taking those courses as well.
“When I was really little I wanted to be a pizza pilot where I would fly around in a plane and drop down pizzas to people.” I asked him if he would throw them like frisbees and he said, “Yes, I’ll get a thin crust, real crispy, so they won’t flop around.”
Paul was the student council President at St. Columban this year. Annually they raise money for school supplies for St. Julie School in Uganda, but because of COVID 19 they were not able to complete all of their fundraising activities. At the urging of his little sister Emily, they decided the canceled Walk-A-Thon should still take place, but by the students walking in their own neighborhoods. This photo (right) provided by his mom is Paul opening donations and notes from St. Columban families who contributed to the “Virtual” Walk-A-Thon. In the end, they raised $1,000.
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Meet Ryan Lindsay
Ryan is a lifelong Loveland resident and 1994 Graduate of LSH. He enlisted the Army right out os high school and served until 1998. Since, he has been a self-described “civilian-slave for the system.” Ryan told me, “Im proud to be a resident and citizen of the City.” For the past 15 years he has been an office manager for a heating and cooling company.
When I asked Ryan what he plans on doing with the rest of his life he said, ”Work, and then do lots of fun things when we are again allowed to do them. I go to Indy car races, sport car races, and concerts.”
I asked him if he ever raced and he said laughing, “No, that’s a rich man’s sport and I want to keep my money for when I retire. I know I would like it so much but I know how much it costs so I would probably bankrupt myself. It’s funner to watch somebody else spend that money so I’d rather watch ‘em do it. do it and that way if there’s a wreck I won’t have a bill to pay or anything like that.” He said he would probably try out a “Driving School” in a professional setting just to try it out to see how his skills stack up. “I would love to race cars, but then you see the price tag.”
He did race bicycles from the late nineties until 2012. “I kinda got too old and too busy with work to keep doing that. I did travel all over the country and would still like to do it but there isn’t enough time now to train and keep fit.”
Ryan will spend his Memorial Day with other veterans making their annual pilgrimage to local cemeteries, praying, and laying wreaths.
Meet Steve Bow
Steve has lived in Loveland since 2012 and has played the trumpet for 41 years. He is a technical specialist with a German company and works from home doing quality control and business and sales development. He does travel to South Carolina and Tennessee to consult with large companies such as Volvo and Volkswagen about quality and technical problems.
Steve was born in 1967 and grew up in Texas. His dad was an engineer for Dow Chemical for “the better part of 40 years.” The family moved to Columbus in 1980. He graduated from Ohio State in 1990 with a degree in metallurgical engineering and he’s been in the steel industry for a little going on 21 years. Steve’s father, Kenneth E. Bow, is a retired Army, Lt Col.
“I consider myself an Ohioan because I was in seventh grade when I first lived here,” Steve said. He attended OSU for five years and was in the marching band for four playing trumpet and in the “S Row” on the field.
Steve is the Assistant State Director, SW/NW Ohio District of Bugles Across America, an all-volunteer Taps organization. Bugles Across America (BAA) offers live/real bugle/trumpet players to sound Taps at Veterans funerals and events so the electronic device can be avoided. Steve has sounded Taps for around 300 “Missions” despite having a full-time job.
Recently, Steve has sounded Taps in Normandy in 2015, Arlington National Cemetery in 2013 and 2016, the D-Day Memorial in Bedford, VA, and various other Veterans events, including participating in a Full Honors funeral with the US Army and last year he played at Dayton National Cemetery.
In 2018, Steve and his daughter Claudia, a Music Ed major at NKU, sounded echo taps at the Normandy American Cemetery. They have also sounded Taps on Omaha Beach.
Steve said, “In addition to my full-time job and the BAA, I also own an art business on the side where I paint Military aircraft nose art from WW2 and aircraft insignia art on aluminum panels to replicate the originals.” He has shipped his artwork to clients around the world. “I also do leather jackets and I have been painting since 2012. My company is STB Aviation Art LLC.”
Steve will spend his Memorial Day with other veterans making their annual pilgrimage to local cemeteries, praying, and laying wreaths, and of course Steve will sound Taps.
Columnist Cassia Mattia is a resident of Historic Downtown Loveland
by Cassie Mattia
Loveland, Ohio – Veteran’s Day this year was another one for the books as fully uniformed St. Columban students marched down Oakland Road to the Loveland Veterans’ Memorial, located at the corner of Riverside and West Loveland. In honor of St. Columban’s Annual Walk for Local Veterans dozens of 7th and 8th-grade students from St. Columban School gathered around the Loveland Veterans’ Memorial with local veterans as a service was conducted in their honor.
During the Veterans Day service, some students were seen holding American flags while others stood up to speak about Veterans Day and what it meant to them and their families. Veterans from all over joined the St. Columban 7th and 8th-grade students as they discussed their experiences with the students and assisted in pinning up beautiful blue ribbons in representation of Loveland’s veterans.
Loveland Magazine was lucky enough to capture on camera both the inspirational and patriotic moments that occurred at the St. Columban’s Veteran’s Day walk and service! Click below to take the Veteran’s Day Annual Walk with the 7th and 8th-grade students of St. Columban!
Loveland, Ohio – Veterans can go to the Loveland Veterans’ Memorial at the corner of Riverside and West Loveland on Monday, November 11, at 11 AM on Veterans Day and be honored by 7th and 8th-grade students from St. Columban School. The students annually walk from their school on Oakland Road to conduct a service to honor local vets.
Thank you to all Veterans! VETERANS EAT FREE NOV. 11! Paxton’s Grill wants to recognize and salute all our military Veterans. Stop into Paxton’s Grill on…
Loveland, Ohio – Students from Jennifer Miller’s 1st-grade class walked to Loveland Magazine’s offices on December 12 to learn about newspapers and write their own story. They had been studying about military Veterans.
“There was a lot of excitement leading up to our trip to LM. Lots of questions – what does it look like? What does your dad do there? Are we stopping to get ice cream?” said Miller. “Upon our return and through a follow-up activity for our scrapbook about our trip – I was able to reiterate that writers write in all different kinds of spaces and places and for different reasons. And that this trip to LM will help our reports on Veteran’s Day reach all kinds of readers in our community.”
Jennifer Miller grew up in Loveland and in 1993 graduated from Loveland High School. She is the daughter of Loveland Magazine Publisher, David Miller. She has an undergraduate degree in Elementary Education from Miami University and a Masters Degree in Early Childhood Literacy. She has taught in the Loveland School District for 21-years.
Miller, a teacher in the Loveland Primary School said she believes writing is important for first-graders because they can learn to express themselves through their words and pictures. Every day, her students write and read what they write to each other. Often, they will collaborate on a story in small groups. Miller said, “They watch me be a writer every day. They become confident during writing as well. Writing is a social experience for us.”
During their visit to Loveland Magazine, the students learned about magazines, newspapers, news websites, and the purpose of writing news stories that people in their own community will want to read. They understand that teachers and parents will read what they write, but if their stories are published in newspapers people they don’t even know will learn what’s on their mind as well.
Many parents came with the students and helped the smaller groups complete their writing assignment.
The students work on a specific piece of writing during “Writer’s Workshop” every day. Before they write though, they practice yoga to get their bodies ready for a morning of learning. Miller said that Yoga helps first-graders focus and make good decisions about their behaviors. “Yoga allows us to move in a purposeful way before we have to sit still. That makes for fewer unexpected behaviors in our classroom and room for more meaningful learning,” said Miller.
Students and parent-volunteers sprawl out on the floor to write their story about Veterans.
Amy Reiss is the English as a Second Language teacher for the District, servicing grades 1-4.This is her 6th year teaching in Loveland and her 12th year of teaching.She services students who are bilingual, or who need support from exposure to another language. She sees students inside and outside of the classroom and provides them additional support in English Language Development. There are over 14 languages represented in the District. Reiss and Miller have co-taught for 5 years and work together teaching the Expanding Expressions Tool Writing sequence for the whole class. The languages represented in Miller’s first-grade class this year are Spanish, Uzbek, Tajik, Kyrgyz, and English.
After yoga, Miller dives into the writing lesson. She said, “Some days there is a mini-lesson from me, some days there is time to share, and there is always time to write, or what we call a work session”. Amy Reiss (English as a Second Language teacher for grades 1-4) and I work together.” The students just finished pieces titled “My Thanksgiving” where they retold the facts from their Thanksgiving Holidays with their families. “They turned out wonderful. The children worked hard on including adjectives to describe pie and mashed potatoes. So much work went into this three-week writing project. We completed our pieces of writing with a fancy cover, class photo, and a ribbon. They knew their piece of writing was even more important when I took the time to pull it all together for them this way.”
The languages represented in Miller’s first-grade class this year are Spanish, Uzbek, Tajik, Kyrgyz, and English. There are 26 students in the class and approximately twenty-five percent are “English Learners”.
is one of the many tools Ms. Miller uses to teach her students to write.
Upon return from Winter Break, the class will turn their focus to “small moments.” These personal narratives are also fun to write, according to Miller. For example, instead of writing about their Winter Break, a huge topic, a student might focus just on the moments of making cookies with their grandma while on winter break. “We will then move into a personal narrative about a snowy day which also serves as an assessment piece. And then, my favorite – opinion pieces,” said Miller.
Miller’s first-grade classroom recently volunteered to pilot two new writing resources for the District so they will be working with those during January and February. Miller said, “We are excited to see what they have to offer to help us become even better writers. I will then share my thoughts and examples of my student’s writing with our writing team to help make a decision about which resource we will use in our District at the elementary level in the years to come. It’s going to be a lot of work, but worth it.”
While at Loveland Magazine each group practiced reading what they wrote and were filmed for broadcast.
Miller’s first-graders also work on writing in personal journals every day. This can be a challenge because they can sometimes see this as a job rather than a place they can express themselves. Miller says writing in the journals improves writing stamina. Miller said, “Each month the expectation increases to help them expand a topic that they have been writing about. They must stick to the prompt and really stretch their thinking during this time each day.” When they are done writing in their journal, they have to read it to a friend before turning it in. Reading what they wrote is an important skill for first graders, according to Miller. Their classmate then offers them some constructive criticism and usually, the student returns to their desk to improve their journal before turning it in. Miller said they also work on choosing a friend who will actually offer good advice and not just say, “It looks good.”
While at Loveland Magazine each student wrote their own sentence describing Veterans to make their group’s story that they read on camera.
“So much learning!” said Miller. Each child has a goal for their journals hanging on their desk. The students write their goal. Some want to make their writing more interesting or work on their illustrations. And some who are learning English want to better use their new vocabulary. “Goal setting has become a very important part of writing in our classroom,” said Miller.
Publisher’s Note: I cannot thank the parents and Amy Reiss who accompanied the children – enough. Your help with the children’s field trip to our office is so very valuable, from ensuring they have a safe walk to and from their school, to each of you taking part in helping the small groups with their lesson.
Loveland, Ohio – On Friday, 7th and 8th-grade students from St. Columban marched from their school on Oakland Road to the Loveland Veterans’ Memorial in the West Loveland Historic District for the 22nd-year, to honor veterans. There was student speeches, a prayer, a speech by Vice-Mayor Angie Settell, the pledge of allegiance, laying of wreaths, the playing of Taps, and veterans were given the microphone and allowed to announce their name, branch of service, and where they were stationed.
Veterans are welcome to stop by Paxton’s Grill on Saturday November 11 and let us buy you a meal. It’s your choice: breakfast, lunch or dinner. You pick the meal. We pick up the tab.
It’s our way of saying “Thank You” for your service to our country.
Loveland, Ohio – Loveland Elementary School teacher, Jen Miller brought her 1st-graders to the Loveland Magazine offices on November 2 to continue their year-long series of visits to learn about newspapers and further their writing skills. This was their second visit of the school year. On this last visit, the students practiced both their writing and reading skills by first writing messages to Veterans and then reading what they wrote in front of a camera. It was a twofold class, to hone skills and to honor Veterans as Veterans Day approached.
Miller said, “I want my students to know that we write for a variety of reasons. For enjoyment, to inform, and to honor others.”
Loveland Magazine writer and photographer Sam Smith
The photos below, many taken by Loveland Magazine photographer, Sam Smith are from both visits. Smith also spent time with the children telling them how he prepares photos for his stories. The students are learning how modern newspapers operate and that their stories can be read on a computer, tablet, and smart-phone. Loveland Magazine was the first newspaper in Ohio to be the first “on-line only” newspaper to be accepted into the Ohio Newspaper Association, now the Ohio News Media Association.
“I want them to know that writing happens beyond the walls of our classroom. That’s why these trips to Loveland Magazine are priceless life experiences for my students, my parents, and for myself,” said Miller.
Emma Dickman
Miller always brings six or seven parent volunteers with the class who keep them safe on the walk and sit on the floor with the students and engage with the writing task.
Senior Emma Dickman, a High School Ambassador from the Teaching Professional Academy at Loveland High School always accompanies the class as well.
As the year progresses the 1st-graders will collaborate writing a story about their school, email their story with their photos to Loveland Magazine, and participate in publishing their news. They will also come to Loveland Magazine in the Spring to teach us here at Loveland Magazine how as first-grade students they are taught in the classroom to write stories.
Our daughters learn very early whether it’s safe to expose their feelings to us. Not just their sadness, fears and worries — but also their triumphs, because sharing one’s proud moments is actually the greater risk — [Continue reading: https://tinyurl.com/y9tehy2v]
Loveland, Ohio – Early in October, Loveland resident and former Marine, Walter Golladay, contacted Loveland City Manager Dave Kennedy and offered to produce a Directory of Pavers, an adobe PDF digital report, for the Loveland Veterans’ Memorial
Inscribed pavers at Loveland’s Veterans’ Memorial Park at the corner of West Loveland Avenue and Riverside Drive in the West Loveland Historic District in Loveland.
Park. Golladay was given a 48-page paper report detailing the inscriptions of the more than 1,400 patriotic pavers in the park.
After the Directory was verified for accuracy, by volunteers Golladay recruited, he prepared a digital PDF copy of the report that will be offered to the City for placement on their website. The digital file can be downloaded to smart-phones and viewed while searching for a Patriot’s paver at the park, or selective pages can be printed before the park visit.
Golladay said his hope was to have the digital Directory of Pavers ready by Veteran’s Day, November 11.
The report was released on Thursday to Loveland Magazine so residents will have access to it in time for a Veterans Day service today at the park on Friday, November 10.
Walter Golladay
The 22nd annual Veterans Day Program is scheduled for this Friday, November 10th at 11 AM. The event which is held at Veterans’ Memorial Park on West Loveland Avenue and Riverside Avenue is organized by the 7th and 8th-grade students of Saint Columban School.
Veterans are welcome to stop by Paxton’s Grill on Saturday November 11 and let us buy you a meal. It’s your choice: breakfast, lunch or dinner. You pick the meal. We pick up the tab.
It’s our way of saying “Thank You” for your service to our country.
Veterans are welcome to stop by Paxton’s Grill on Saturday November 11 and let us buy you a meal. It’s your choice: breakfast, lunch or dinner. You pick the meal. We pick up the tab.
It’s our way of saying “Thank You” for your service to our country.
Relaxed atmosphere and friendly service welcomes you back time and time again! Located in the heart of the Historic Loveland District Just outside Cincinnati, Ohio.
Walter D. Golladay is a Loveland resident and former Marine
Earlier this month, this Loveland resident contacted Loveland City Manager Dave Kennedy and offered to produce a Directory of Pavers adobe PDF digital report for our memorial park. With his assistance, I was given a 48 page City of Loveland paper report detailing the inscriptions of the more than 1,400 + Patriotic pavers in the Loveland Veterans’ Memorial park.
This month, I transcribed most, but not all, of the 1,400 plus Patriot’s inscription information into a new 44 page Directory of Pavers report. This report is now ready to be thoroughly reviewed, corrected and verified for inscription accuracy by Memorial Park onsite volunteers, of any age. After the Dire
Inscribed pavers at Loveland’s Veterans’ Memorial Park at the corner of West Loveland Avenue and Riverside Drive in the West Loveland Historic District in Loveland.
ctory is verified foraccuracy, a digital PDF copy of the report will be offered to the City of Loveland for placement on their website. The digital file, not an “app” can be downloaded to smart phones and viewed while searching for a Patriot’s paver at the park, or selective pages can be printed before the park visit.
My hope is to have the digital Directory of Pavers ready by Veteran’s Day, 11 November 2017.
Donate Unwanted Halloween Candy to Operation Gratitude and Receive a 20% Discount at The Loveland Sweet Shoppe
From November 1st through the 13th, bring in at least 20 pieces of unwanted or leftover Halloween candy to The Loveland Sweet Shoppe in Downtown Loveland, receive a coupon worth 20% off your next purchase, and the Sweet Shoppe will donate all traded-in candy to Operation Gratitude to be sent in care packages to our military troops and their families serving all over the world.
The 20% discount applies to any purchase and has no exclusions, so it can be used to take home some of the Sweet Shoppe’s award-winning chocolates, handcrafted ice creams, homemade caramel apples, rich coffees, or of course any bulk or specialty candies in the store. The coupons are valid November 1st through November 22nd, so they can be used to purchase treats for family and guests, or to find the perfect gift for a hostess or host for the fast-approaching Thanksgiving and Holiday season.
“We thought this would be a great way for us to honor our Veterans Day as we look forward to celebrating Veterans Day, and to offer a special discount to our loyal customers,” said Gloria Wilson, owner of the Veterans Day.
About the Loveland Sweet Shoppe:
Inspired by a love of fine Veterans Day and homemade confections, Gloria Wilson founded The Loveland Sweet Shoppe in 2006. The business has grown to include ice creams and coffees, but the commitment to high quality artisan products remains unchanged. The house-made candies and ice creams are lovingly created in small batches featuring premium ingredients as well as local dairy products and fresh seasonal fruits. The coffee is a rich and aromatic custom blend available only at Loveland Sweets. The Shoppe offers fine teas and hot chocolate as well as seasonal favorites such as handmade caramel apples. The Loveland Sweet Shoppe is located in Historic Downtown Loveland at 124 West Loveland Avenue, Loveland, OH 45140, 513-583-8305, www.lovelandsweets.com. Shoppe hours are 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day.
About Operation Gratitude:
Operation Gratitude annually sends more than 200,000 care packages filled with food, entertainment, hygiene, and handmade items, plus personal letters of appreciation
to Veterans, First Responders, New Recruits, Wounded Heroes, their Care Givers, and to individually named U.S. service members deployed overseas and their families waiting at home. Each package contains donated product valued from $45-100, and costs the organization $15 to assemble and ship. Since its inception in 2003, Operation Gratitude volunteers have shipped more than 1,800,000 care packages. Visit www.operationgratitude.com for more information.
![[2 Videos] We hope you will watch Loveland Magazine’s Memorial Day Service](https://lovelandmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/feature-ryan-lindsay.jpg)
“When I was really little I wanted to be a pizza pilot where I would fly around in a plane and drop down pizzas to people.” I asked him if he would throw them like frisbees and he said, “Yes, I’ll get a thin crust, real crispy, so they won’t flop around.”
Meet Ryan Lindsay
Meet Steve Bow
![[Video Slide Show] St. Columban students Salute Local Veterans](https://lovelandmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/st.-columban-veterans-day.jpg)
Jennifer Miller grew up in Loveland and in 1993 graduated from Loveland High School. She is the daughter of Loveland Magazine Publisher, David Miller. She has an undergraduate degree in Elementary Education from Miami University and a Masters Degree in Early Childhood Literacy. She has taught in the Loveland School District for 21-years.
Amy Reiss is the English as a Second Language teacher for the District, servicing grades 1-4.
is one of the many tools Ms. Miller uses to teach her students to write.
Publisher’s Note: I cannot thank the parents and Amy Reiss who accompanied the children – enough. Your help with the children’s field trip to our office is so very valuable, from ensuring they have a safe walk to and from their school, to each of you taking part in helping the small groups with their lesson.
![[Photo Album] St. Columban students honoring Veterans](https://lovelandmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Vets-day-feature.jpg)
by David Miller,
From November 1st through the 13th, bring in at least 20 pieces of unwanted or leftover Halloween candy to The Loveland Sweet Shoppe in Downtown Loveland, receive a coupon worth 20% off your next purchase, and the Sweet Shoppe will donate all traded-in candy to Operation Gratitude to be sent in care packages to our military troops and their families serving all over the world.
Inspired by a love of fine Veterans Day and homemade confections, Gloria Wilson founded The Loveland Sweet Shoppe in 2006. The business has grown to include ice creams and coffees, but the commitment to high quality artisan products remains unchanged. The house-made candies and ice creams are lovingly created in small batches featuring premium ingredients as well as local dairy products and fresh seasonal fruits. The coffee is a rich and aromatic custom blend available only at Loveland Sweets. The Shoppe offers fine teas and hot chocolate as well as seasonal favorites such as handmade caramel apples. The Loveland Sweet Shoppe is located in Historic Downtown Loveland at 124 West Loveland Avenue, Loveland, OH 45140, 513-583-8305,