HomeMy Public PortalAboutTOL NR 2019-05-20 Memorial Day Observance
Town of Leesburg
News Release
For Immediate Release
May 20, 2019
Media Contact:
Leah Kosin, Public Information Assistant
lkosin@leesburgva.gov 703-771-2781
Leesburg to Celebrate Memorial Day with Observance at
Loudoun County Courthouse on Monday, May 27, 2019
Leesburg, VA (May 20, 2019) – The Town of Leesburg will hold its annual Memorial Day
Observance on Monday, May 27, 2019, on the Loudoun County Courthouse grounds in
downtown Leesburg, beginning at 10:00 a.m.
This annual observance will commemorate those who have lost their lives in battle, serving the
United States, as well as recognize the brave military men and women who serve our country.
Veterans, active duty military, their families, and members of the public are invited to join in
this tribute which will feature patriotic music and a traditional rifle salute.
This year’s featured speaker is John Kimball, managing general partner and CEO of “The John
Kimball Group”, a newspaper industry consultancy located in Leesburg.
Kimball is a graduate of Michigan State University (MSU) with a degree in advertising and
communication and the Harvard Business School Executive Education program. He served in
the military beginning in 1967.
He attended basic training at Ft. Knox, Kentucky and Ft. Lee, Virginia prior to serving as a
specialist fourth class with the 13th Signal Battalion of the First Air Cavalry Division. In early
1968, at the height of the Battle of Khe Sanh, Kimball was wounded in a grenade attack. It
severed an artery in his right leg and also injured his liver and abdomen. He was later awarded
with the Purple Heart.
Upon his medivac return from Vietnam, Kimball served the balance of his three year Army
enlistment running the trainee records division at Ft. Ord, California, which was then one of the
largest basic training facilities during the height of the Vietnam War. He left the Army as a Staff
Sergeant in 1970 and began his newspaper career as a senior executive at newspapers in
Detroit, Denver, and Northern New Jersey prior to moving to Northern Virginia. He went on to
serve as the Chief Marketing Officer for the Newspaper Association of America (NAA) where he
managed the marketing initiatives for the newspaper industry. He retired from NAA in August
2009. Kimball now resides in Leesburg with his wife, Lori.
Following Kimball’s remarks, wreaths will be laid at each of the war memorials in honor of all
soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen who served in the defense of our country, in all conflicts.
Ceremony participants will include Leesburg VFW Post #1177, American Legion Post #34, the
Ketoctin Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Sons of Confederate Veterans,
Sons of the American Revolution and United Daughters of the Confederacy, Loudoun Chapter
#170, and several Boy and Girl Scout Troops.
Market Street, from Church to Wirt streets, and King Street, from Loudoun to North streets, will
be closed to vehicular traffic beginning at 9:30 a.m. until the end of the ceremony at
approximately 11:30 a.m. Event guests should park in the Leesburg Town Hall Parking Garage,
accessible from Loudoun Street. On-street parking within the street closure area will be
available for ceremony attendees with special needs.
In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony will be held at the Loudoun County Senior
Center (102 North Street NW). To confirm the rain location or for more information regarding
the ceremony, please contact the Town of Leesburg’s Park and Recreation Department at 703-
777-1368 or visit www.idalee.org.
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