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Washington Evening Journal
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Mt. Pleasant Memorial Day Services
After a year of canceled Memorial Day services due to COVID-19, 2021 will once again feature an array of programs honoring those killed in wars.
Last year, participants were most concerned about a pandemic with a disproportionate effect on elderly demographics that includes many veterans. This year, they’re more worried about rain. Many scheduled indoor venues or backup plans, while others said they’ll be forced to cancel if weather doesn’t cooperate.
Below is a list of services honoring veterans this Memorial Day weekend.
Mt. Pleasant
- Thursday, May 27, 4 p.m. Boy Scouts will place flags on graves with flag holders in Forest Home, Old City and St. Alphonsus Cemeteries under the supervision of Bob Svidal and Pat White. Volunteers are welcome at Forest Home.
- Saturday, May 29, 8 a.m. the flags will be raised on the Courthouse lawn, where they will remain for four days, to be retired on Tuesday, June 1 at 4 p.m. Anyone is welcome and encouraged to volunteer in the raising and retiring of the flags.
- Monday, May 31, 10:30 a.m. A Memorial Day observance will be held at the Mt. Pleasant High School gymnasium. Bleachers and floor seating will be available to accommodate social distancing with family groups sitting together. The event will include: Presentation of colors by members of the VFW and American Legion Posts and Auxiliaries; music from Mt. Pleasant Community High School and Mt. Pleasant Elementary School band members, directed by Jim DePriest and Katie Townsend, respectively.
Avenue of Flags Chairman and Honor Guard Commander, Dean King will serve as the master of ceremonies at the high school event. Reading of 12 names to be engraved on the memorial since last Memorial Day, and recognition of their families. First Presbyterian Church Pastor and former U.S. Marine Trey Hager will deliver the invocation and benediction. After the benediction, the honor guard will fire a three-volley salute followed by taps from the high school band.
New London Veteran Memorial Park
- Memorial Day Observance will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, May 31, at the Veteran's Memorial. Guests are asked to bring lawn chairs. In case of inclement weather the event will be moved to the VFW Post 7641, 802 East McKinley.
Salem
10 a.m. at the Veterans Memorial, at the corner of Main and Oak St. Masks are optional, but guests are asked to social distance. The event will include a post of colors; prayer given by Pastor Aaron Helterbran from the Congregational Church; announcement of the names of the Legion veterans who have died in the last year; three volleys; an ending prayer; and taps.
Wayland
- 6:30-9 a.m. Memorial Day breakfast at Your Choice Restaurant, 202 E. Highway 78. $10 per person.
Winfield
- American Legion Post No. 643 will host a service at 10 a.m. at the Winfield Scott Township Cemetery. The service will include a raising of the flag, reading of recent deaths, and taps.
Washington
- Monday, May 31, 8 a.m. Raising of the flag at the Post Office
- Monday, May 31, at Crooked Creed Bridge, 8:30 a.m. American Legion No. 29 will hold a Navy/Marine Service,
- Monday, May 31, 10 a.m., at Central Park. American Legion Post 29 will host its main service. The event will relocate to Washington High School auditorium if it rains. That program will include the posting of the colors by American Legion Post No. 29; an Invocation by Gene Carpenter; the “Star Spangled Banner,” sung by Will Hart; the Pledge of Allegiance, led by Chelsea Saeugling; recognition of veterans in attendance by Michael York; Logan’s Order, presented by Wayne Kauffman; the Gettysburg Address, presented by David P. Cotner, III; an address by Dale Torpey; God Bless America, sung by Will Hart; military honors since Memorial Day 2019 by Bruce Timmins & Wayne Kauffman; a rifle salute; taps by John Harris; Folding of the Flag, a Benediction by Gene Carpenter, and a Retirement of the Colors by the Color Guard.
Riverside
- Friday, May 28, 5:30 p.m. volunteers will place flags and crosses at Mt. Olivet Cemetery. Community members are invited to help.
- Sunday, May 30, 7 a.m. Volunteers will raise the Avenue of Flags at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, the Riverside Public Cemetery, and the Riverside Veteran’s Memorial Park. Community members are invited to help.
- Monday, May 31, 10 a.m. services will be held at the Riverside Public Cemetery. The program will include America the Beautiful, sung by Cindy Michel; an opening prayer recited by VFW Auxillary Chaplain Bev Schneider; Placing of the bouquets acknowledging all wars by the Riverside Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts; an Address by Retired U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sergeant Pamela Flynn; the Star Spangled Banner, sung by Cindy Michel; Veterans of Foreign Wars Presentation of Arms; and taps.
- Monday, May 31, 10:30 a.m. VFW Post No. 6414 Honor Guard and VFW Auxiliary Color Bearers will travel to St. Vincent’s Cemetery, then St. Stanislaus Cemetery at 11 a.m., and the English River Bridge at 11:30 a.m. to honor those lost at sea.
- Monday, May 31, 12 p.m. The VFW Honor Guard and Auxiliary Color Bearers will retire to the VFW Post No. 6414 for a luncheon served by the VFW Auxiliary. All veterans and their guests are invited to attend.
- Monday, May 31, 5 p.m. volunteers will take down flags and crosses. Community members are invited to help.
In case of rain, services will relocate to VFW Post No. 6414, 1259 Riverside Road, Riverside.
Oregon Township
- May 29: American Legion Post No. 351 will place flags in Oregon Township Cemetery
- May 31: 10 a.m. American Legion Post No. 351 will hold an outdoor ceremony at the Oregon Township Cemetery, rendering honors with a firing squad followed by taps. Flowers will be available to place on veterans’ graves. The public is invited to attend, keeping in mind the restrictions and social distancing requirements in place at the time.
Wellman
- May 31, 9 a.m. American Legion Post No. 427 will host an observance at Wellman Cemetery, with music from the Mid-Prairie High School band, and a speech from Chuck Singleman. The event will be canceled in the event of inclement weather.
Kalona
- Monday, May 31, 10 a.m. at the Sharon Hill Cemetery in Kalona.
- Monday, May 31, 11 a.m. at the Richmond Cemetery.
Glasgow
- May 31, 2 p.m. Glasgow cemetery. Guests are asked to bring lawn chairs. The event will be canceled if it rains. The program will include a Welcome and Invocation by Lisa Reindl, The Pledge of Allegiance, the songs (sung by all) America the Beautiful, America, and God be With you; The Flanders Field and Response, given by Joan Fulton; the Gettysburg Address, given by Kathy Love; a Program by Joan and Craig Fulton; and taps by Jeff Six.
Vietnam veteran Michael Henderson enjoys brunch at the New London VFW Post. (Ashley Duong/The Union)
The Veteran's Circle in Elm Grove Cemetery in Washington. (Gretchen Teske/The Union)
Hundreds of American flags flutter in the wind at Fairfield's Central Park. (Andy Hallman/The Union)
