Mayor Listenberger delivers Memorial Day address at Oak Hill Cemetery

Plymouth Mayor Robert Listenberger delivered the Memorial Day address Monday morning before a crowd gathered at Oak Hill Cemetery, calling on residents to remember the fallen not just with words, but through lives lived in a manner worthy of their sacrifice.

Before beginning his formal remarks, Listenberger paused to recognize Cemetery Superintendent Mike Collins and his crew for their work in preparing and maintaining the grounds for the annual ceremony.

The mayor's address struck a tone of reverence and reflection, framing Memorial Day not as the unofficial start of summer, but as a sacred moment in the civic calendar.

"Today is not simply a date on the calendar," Listenberger told the crowd. "It is a sacred pause. A moment to step away from the pace of daily life and reflect on what was given so that we might live free."

Listenberger spoke of the generations of American service members who answered their country's call, leaving behind homes, families, and futures to face hardship in distant places — and of those from Plymouth and Marshall County who were among them.

"This community has sent its sons and daughters into harm's way in every generation," the mayor said. "Their names are familiar — etched here in stone, carried in memory, and held close by those who loved them. They are not just names. They were friends, neighbors, classmates. They had dreams. They had futures. They had families who loved them deeply."

The mayor also honored the Gold Star families who carry the weight of loss long after the battles have ended — the parents, spouses, and children left behind.

"Their loss did not end when the conflict did," he said. "And today, we stand with them — with gratitude, with respect, and with unwavering support."

Listenberger closed by urging residents to see Memorial Day as a call to responsibility — to teach future generations that freedom is not guaranteed but earned, protected, and preserved through sacrifice.

"May we never forget. May we always be grateful. And may God continue to bless our fallen heroes, our community, and the United States of America."