Area Memorial Day services slated for Monday

Following is a list of area Memorial Day services scheduled in Poweshiek County.

Montezuma

Montezuma Memorial Day services will be held at the Masonic IOOF Cemetery near the maintenance building Monday, May 26 at 10 a.m. The Montezuma Blakely Stevens Post 169 of the American Legion and its Auxiliary are hosting the services.

Invocation will be under the director of American Legion Post 169 Chaplin Ron Bryan.

American Legion Hawkeye girls’ state representatives Sara Bos and Kami Mathes will read Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. Boys’ state representatives Peyton Tindle and Larry Mohr will follow with the reading of General Logan’s Orders.

Placing of a wreath on the Grave of the Unknown Soldier will be under the direction of Blakely-Stevens Unit Auxiliary President Bea Hensel.

The guest speaker will be Frank Grizel, a volunteer photographer with the Eastern Iowa Honor Flights.

The Post 169 firing squad will deliver the three-volley salute. The Montezuma High School Band, under the direction of Carri Burnett, will perform several patriotic numbers, with Legion members playing taps.

The benediction will follow by Chaplin Bryan.

Following services in Montezuma, American Legion members will travel to cemeteries at West Liberty, Sheley and Ewart for the playing of taps

Veterans and volunteers will be placing flags on the Montezuma Square, at the cemeteries and on veterans’ graves Friday, May 23, at 4 p.m.

Brooklyn and Malcom

A flag-raising ceremony will be held at the Brooklyn Community Estates Nursing Home at 9 a.m., Monday, May 26 with assembly time at 8:30 a.m. The group will then proceed to the Brooklyn Cemetery for Memorial Day services at approximately 9:15 a.m. followed by a service at Harmony Cemetery at 9:30 a.m.

A service at the Ivy Hill Cemetery in Malcom will follow at 10:30 a.m.

Speaker for the services will be pastor Joel Nielsen of the Madison Church of Christ. Others participating will be the BGM High School band, Poweshiek Pioneers 4-H Club, Madison Moovers 4-H Club, Cub Scouts Troop 347 and the Girl Scouts.

The Legion Auxiliary will place a wreath in honor of all the servicemen and women who have answered the last call. American Legion Posts 294 and 733 firing squads giving the three-volley salute.

The BGM High School band and Legion firing squads will proceed to the Malcom Cemetery, where they will participate in the services at 10:30 a.m.

In case of rain, the services will be held at the high school in Brooklyn and at the Legion Hall in Malcom.

Slack-Light, Dresden, Guernsey and Deep River

The Deep River Morrison Schrader Post 296 of the American Legion is hosting Memorial Day services at four area cemeteries May 26.

Services at Slack-Light Cemetery will begin at 8:45 a.m. Residents should meet at the Deep River Legion Hall at 8 a.m.

The service will be under the direction of American Legion Post 296 Commander Steve Shaffer. Pastor Larry Naylor will offer a prayer to departed comrades.

The Post 296 firing squad will deliver the three-volley salute with bugler Zach Van Waardhuizen performing taps.

Services at Dresden Cemetery will begin at 9 a.m.

The service will be under the direction of American Legion Post 296 Commander Steve Shaffer. Pastor Larry Naylor will offer a prayer to departed comrades.

The Post 296 firing squad will deliver the three-volley salute with bugler Zach Van Waardhuizen performing taps.

Services at Guernsey will begin at 10 a.m.

The service will be under the direction of American Legion Post 296 Commander Steve Shaffer. Auxiliary President Tina Widmer will deliver the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

Guernsey Church Lay Minister Gerald Slaymaker will lead the opening prayer.

Guest speaker will be Iowa Department of the American Legion Past Commander Randy Johnson. Also taking part in the service will be Auxiliary Unit 296 President Tina Widmer, SAL 296 Squadron Commander Bob Wilhelm, 5th District Commander Gary Quinlan, 5th District Auxiliary President Tammi Quinlan and 5th District Jr. Auxiliary President Ava De Weese and Secretary Karlie Mostek.

Unit Chaplain Liz Roberts will read the poem “Freedom is Not Free,” and Auxiliary member Francene Cranston read Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address.

The Post 296 firing squad will deliver the three-volley salute. Bugler Zach Van Waardhuizen will perform taps.

Deep River services will begin at 11 a.m.

The service will begin with the national anthem played by the Montezuma High School Band. The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag will be under the direction of Auxiliary President Tina Widmer.

Pastor Larry Naylor will provide the invocation.

Guest speaker will be Iowa Department of the American Legion Past Commander Randy Johnson. Also taking part in the service will be the Auxiliary Unit 296 President Tina Widmer, SAL 296 Squadron Commander Bob Wilhelm, 5th District Commander Gary Quinlan, 5th District Auxiliary President Tammi Quinlan and 5th District Jr. Auxiliary President Ava De Weese and Secretary Karlie Mostek.

Unit Chaplain Liz Roberts will read “Freedom is Not Free. The 5th District Auxiliary President Tami Quinlan will read “Flanders Field,” and Auxiliary member Francene Cranston will read Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address.

Adjutant Ed Evans will lay wreaths at markers.

Michelle Williamson, with the United Church of Deep River, will deliver a prayer for the nation.

The Post 296 firing squad will deliver the three-volley salute. Bugler Zach Van Waardhuizen will perform taps.

Other information

The Golden Rod Cemetery Committee is serving lunch at the Deep River Community Center following services. The price of the meal is a donation to support the cemetery.

Poppies and flags along the Avenue of Flags will be placed Friday, May 23 at 5 p.m. Flag pick up will be Monday, May 26 at 5 p.m.

Grinnell

The Grinnell American Legion Post 53 and the VFW Post 3932 invite area residents to Memorial Day services Monday, May 26 at 10:30 a.m. at Grinnell Central Park stage.

If it rains, the event will be held at the Elks Lodge.

A wreath laying presentation and the playing of taps will take place at Hazelwood Cemetery in Grinnell at 3 p.m. This ceremony is part of the National Taps Across America Ceremony.

Victor

The Victor American Legion Post 54 is hosting a Memorial Day service Monday at 10 a.m. The event will be held at the American Legion Post at 601 Third St. The HLV High School band will play and the Victor Community Choir will sing Patriotic songs.

After the service, there will be a short ceremony across the street from the Victor Memorial Cemetery with the laying of the wreath to the Unknown Soldier, a three-volley salute and the playing of taps.