Memorial Day Services 2024 - Bellaire, Ohio

BELLAIRE — American Legion Post 52, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 626 and Disabled American Veterans Chapter 117 are joining to host a service at 11 a.m. Monday to kick off Memorial Day weekend.
The service will take place at Union Square, aka Bellaire City Park. If it rains, it will occur inside Bellaire High School.
U.S. Navy Veteran John “Dixie” Purtiman is slated to be the master of ceremonies, and Bishop Michael Tolliver of New Beginning Church of Bellaire will offer the Invocation. VFW Post 626 and Legion Post 52 will be doing a firing squad.
The service will feature guest speaker Richard “Chad” Balwanz of Glencoe.
Balwanz graduated from Bellaire High School in 1970 and from Campbell University in Buies Creek, North Carolina, in 1982 with an associate degree in education. He went on to Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee, graduating in 1995 with a bachelor’s degree.
In 1971, he joined the U.S. Army as a private serving in the 82nd Airborne Division.
In 1979, Balwanz volunteered for the Special Forces Qualification Course, from which he graduated in 1980 as a Special Forces Medical Specialist serving in the elite Fifth Special Forces Group.
He worked as a trainer and military adviser on mobile training teams in Greece, Kenya, Niger, Saudi Arabia and Jordan.
In 1985, Balwanz was commissioned as an Army warrant officer, returning to the Special Forces “A” Team as a detachment commander of military freefall parachutist and underwater SCUBA teams.
In 1991, Balwanz’s “A” Team deployed for Operation Desert Storm, where he became the first warrant officer in history to command ground forces in combat while confronting Saddam Hussein’s military inside of Iraqi territory, according to event organizers.
Balwanz has several medals and decorations such as a Silver Star, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, NCO Development Ribbon III, Good Conduct Ribbon, Master Parachutist Wings, Greek, Niger, Jordan, Saudi Arabian Jump Wings, Special Forces Tab, Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Humanitarian Service Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Kuwaiti Liberation Medal, Military Free Fall Master Wings, Combat Infantryman’s Badge and Civilian Combat Support Award.
Balwanz is married to the former Janet Lee Tapp and is the father to Brandon, Maggie and Kyrstin and stepfather to Samara. From Times Leader article May 22, 2024