Memorial Day Observances in Henry County

HENRY COUNTY - Local observances of Memorial Day in Henry County will look a little different this year than they have in years past.

With social distancing guidelines expected to be maintained through Monday, May 25, local Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion Auxiliary chapters are adapting their usual events to keep people safe.

Mt. Pleasant

The Henry County Veterans Memorial Committee has a whole weekend of events planned to observe Memorial Day. They will kick off by placing flags on Veteran graves on Thursday, May 21 Forest Home, Old City and St. Alphonsus Cemeteries beginning at 4 p.m. The group is asking families to provide flag holders if they wish to have one placed at a loved one's grave.

Flags at the Henry County Courthouse in Mt. Pleasant will be raised on Saturday, May 23 at 8 a.m. and will remain flying through 4 p.m. on Tuesday, May 26. Any person who wishes to volunteer in the raising at the retiring of the flags are invited to partake on those days.

Though the traditional Memorial Day Service, which usually sees over 1,000 people in attendance, will be canceled, to recognize the 15 new names that will be engraved at the memorial marker in front of the Henry County Courthouse, a brief service will be held at the marker beginning at 11 a.m. With the fifteen additional names, the marker memorializes 1,422 fallen veterans from the area.

The committee is requesting only the families of those being recognized attend. Social distancing guidelines will be observed during the service, which will include brief remarks, a reading of the names as well as the firing of a rifle and taps.

This year, the service will forgo its featured speaker and performances by the Mt. Pleasant high school and elementary school bands. Dr. DeWayne Frazier from Iowa Wesleyan University, who was slated to speak this year, has agreed to return as a speaker for the following year's service.

Dean King, a member of the committee, said the group felt it was important to do something to 'acknowledge veterans that have passed away.”

'This holiday was to honor veterans who were killed in service to their country. It's why we have a military type presence,” he said.

Salem

The American Legion Auxiliary in Salem will be holding a small ceremony at Salem Memorial on the 25th at 10 a.m.

Member Jim Onorato noted the group will hold a small prayer and fire weapons, a deviation from their regular ceremony.

'We normally have a big service with speeches and presentations and then we shoot. With the rules this year, we're not going to get together,” Onorato said. Anyone who wishes to attend their amended event is welcomed but Onorato said the group asks everyone to observe the social distancing guidelines and to 'wear masks if they have them.”

He added the group wanted to find a way to honor fallen veterans even through the current pandemic.

'It's a little inconvenient but it's important. We've got to do it,” he said.

Though the local chapter is holding a small ceremony, the chapter also understands not everyone will be able to attend the event, and suggests any locals who cannot attend say a small prayer at 10:15 a.m. on the 25th.

New London

The VFW Post 7641 in New London also will be holding a small memorial at 2 p.m. on the 25th. For their ceremony, the chapter will have a reading of General John A. Logan's Memorial Day Order, which prompted the establishment of the national holiday, as well as fire weapons as well as a bugle performance. The group also will be erecting flags for all six military branches.

Like the other ceremonies, New London's will forgo speakers this year. Also, in the case of inclement weather, the event will be canceled.

The chapter's commander Larry Meagaer, said the group usually holds the memorial at their post's home but are moving it outdoors to be able to observe social distance guidelines.

'It's important. It's something that should never be forgotten,” Meagaer said of Memorial Day.

For those unable to attend the ceremony, Meagaer noted there would probably be a host of televised observations as well, which people can partake in from their homes.