By Dan Horn
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Before the marching bands and bagpipers and camouflaged trucks made their way down the parade route Monday morning in Blue Ash, Ferd Hersman paused for a moment to take in the Memorial Day crowd.

PHOTO GALLERY

Photos from Tristate parades and ceremonies.

The 81-year-old World War II veteran liked what he saw.

Young couples pushing baby strollers festooned with red, white and blue balloons. Middle-aged men wearing patriotic T-shirts and caps. And children, some barely old enough to walk, clutching tiny American flags.

"It's good to see," said Hersman, a former Army medic. "It helps to reflect occasionally that everything we have is hard won."

That's just what communities across Greater Cincinnati did on Monday. Thousands turned out for parades, picnics and memorial services to reflect and to honor those who have served in America's armed forces.

The show of patriotism was at times more intense and more emotional this year against the backdrop of war in Iraq and the continued threat of terrorism.

Hersman sensed the change in attitude as he stood along the parade route in Blue Ash. He said he was grateful so many people took time to give thanks for the sacrifice of others.

If anything good can come of war, Hersman said, it is the renewed sense of unity and patriotism it has brought to Americans.

"When there is no war, things are just going along. Everyone is happy and complacent," he said. "You tend to forget."

But with fighting overseas constantly in the news, the cost of war is clear to see. Hersman, like thousands of others in Greater Cincinnati, began his day Monday by watching television reports and reading newspaper accounts of the 162 service men and women who have died in Iraq.

For Hersman, it brought back memories of his own service, of friends who didn't make it back. "It was a tear-jerker," the Blue Ash man said. "It showed me that this is a continuing campaign. These are different guys in a different time who stood up."

Mark Justice, a dispatcher for the West Chester police, wanted to get that point across to his four sons. He sat a few feet from Hersman with his boys, ages 8 to 2, waiting for the first band to march by.

"I want to make sure the boys understand that Memorial Day is something we celebrate in honor of our servicemen," Justice said. "Even more so this year."

Michele Combs of Kenwood brought her children, too. She and her neighbors have come to the Blue Ash parade every year for almost a decade.

The kids look forward to the parade and to the candy that the folks who march past traditionally toss to children. They sat on the curb Monday with bags at the ready to gather up any Tootsie Rolls, Sweet Tarts or other treats that came their way.

"They've perfected the art of candy gathering," Combs said.

Although the kids might be focused on candy, she said she's not worried about them missing the point of Memorial Day. With so much news about war in Iraq and Afghanistan, it's hard for kids not to gain at least some appreciation for those serving overseas.

"It always gets more quiet when they start to see men in uniform," Combs said. "It takes on a more serious tone." As she spoke, her 11-year-old neighbor, Kirt Hobler, wandered past with his bag of candy.

"What's Memorial Day about?" she asked him.

"Candy!" he said, laughing.

"What's it really about?" she said.

"The United States of America," he said. "The Army and the Navy. The soldiers."

Nancy Sonnebille of Blue Ash found a place along the parade route to watch her 10-year-old son, Jordan, march with his soccer team. But she said that's not the only reason she came.

Sonnebille said she wanted to show her support for the young men and women now serving in the military, especially those overseas.

"Just the thought of them being so far from home," she says, "it gives you pause."

E-mail dhorn@enquirer.com