08/24/2026
Freedom Walk 9-11-2026 at 4PM at Zaback-Williams-Ducro Funeral Home
Remember 9/11 Patriot Day-Freedom Walk
To commemorate the 25th Anniversary of 9/11 and Patriot Day and in conjunction with the 250th Anniversary of the founding of the United States of America, Ducro Funeral Services and Crematory, is sponsoring a Remember 9/11 Freedom Walk to honor those who lost their lives on that fateful day and to show appreciation to the brave heroes and first responders who protect us every day. The entire community is invited to participate in the approximately one-mile Freedom Walk which begins and ends at ZABACK-WILLIAMS-DUCRO FUNERAL HOME, 500 West Prospect Road, Ashtabula.
The opening ceremony will begin at 4pm Friday, Sept. 11th, 2026 at Zaback-Williams-Ducro Funeral Home and consist of a welcome by J.P. Ducro IV, Invocation by Rev. Robert Leonard, Calling & Posting of Colors by the Ashtabula County Combined Honor Guard, the Pledge of Allegiance, the National Anthem sung by Elizabeth Jernigan, a recap of the events of 9/11 and Introduction of Honor Flag which holds the names of every person who died in conjunction with the event of 9/11 by Len Jury, a Poem ”Spirit of America: 9/11” by Sue Curtis Ducro, Singing of “God Bless America”, and Retiring of Colors. The Freedom Walk will follow as those in attendance will walk from the Zaback-Williams-Ducro Funeral Home to the Ashtabula City Fire Department for prayer and brief words from a representative of Fire Dept. regarding their memorial piece from the World Trade Center twin towers. Then everyone will process to W. 44th St. and stop at the Ashtabula Police Department for prayer and words from a representative of the APD. Next, the procession will backtrack to Veterans Park for Prayer and Military Honors by the Honor Guard and a patriotic bagpipe tribute by Kathy Wright before returning to the Funeral Home reception room for a benediction led by Pastor Fred Grimm and refreshments. Rev. Kenneth Roberts, Pastor of Pentecostal Church of God, Fr. Francis Muriithi of Our Lady of Peace Parish, and Rev. Emory Moore, Pastor of New Hope Church of God in Christ will assist with the prayers at the various stops on the prayer walk. Those wishing to observe the walk can watch from the east side of LCpl Kevin Cornelius Park (North Park) between 4:30 and 5 PM.
Upon returning to Zaback’s, the group will share in Refreshments following a closing benediction and blessing. The first 100 walkers will get a free T-shirt courtesy of Ducro Services to show their solidarity during the walk and all in attendance will be eligible to enter a drawing to receive a free coverlet honoring your preferred branch of military, fire department, or police department. Donations will also be accepted at the event to benefit Feed Our Vets and the American Legion Post #103 Honor Guard.
In continuing with their commitment to honoring veterans, Ducro’s and Greenlawn Memory Gardens will be sponsoring Wreaths Across America again this year with a special ceremony at 12 Noon at Greenlawn on Saturday, December 19, 2026 to provide an evergreen wreath for every veteran buried in the cemetery. Volunteers may come to place wreaths beginning at 10AM
