Memorial Day plans in area announced
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Several county communities have announced plans to observe Memorial Day this year.
Mount Ayr
American Legion Post 172 will honor our fallen this Memorial Day. Although there will be no ceremony at the Legion, we plan to put up flags and honor those that have given their all. This is dependent on the weather.
The following are plans for the weekend:
Thursday May 27. At 9:00 a.m. the holes for the flags will be marked at the Rose Hill Cemetery. Later that day 3:00 Pack 39 Cub Scouts will be placing small flags on the graves with markers. Afterwards they will be treated to ice cream.
Friday May 28
Beginning at 9:00 a.m., flag poles will be placed in marked holes.
The public is welcomed to come out and help erect the Avenue of Flags. Over 300 flags are on display for the weekend once a year.
A donation box is at the main cemetery entrance. Donations are so very important to continue. Last year after the flags and poles were taken down 51 had to be mended, and eight had to be replaced.
Saturday May 29 At 8:00 a.m. the flags will be put onto the poles, and markers set. After the flags have been placed, there will be biscuits and gravy served by the Auxiliary for those who helped.
Memorial Day, Monday May 31 A ceremony will start at 9:00 a.m. at the Benton Cemetery. The color guard will move to the “Grave of the Unknown” at the Rose Hill Cemetery. At 3:00 p.m. the poles and flags will be taken down and stored. Remember this is all depending on the weather. We would like to protect 312+ flags and poles.
The Legion would like to thank John Peters who is in charge of this program. If you would like to purchase a flag and pole for a veteran who has passed, you can contact John.
Again we welcome anyone to come out and help and a thank-you to the future leaders Mt. Ayr Scouts, and Auxillary and Sons of American Legion.
Diagonal
Diagonal American Legion Post 395 will conduct its traditional Memorial Day services at various area cemeteries Monday, May 31.
The Legion color guard will meet at the Community Building at 7:30 a.m. prior to traveling to Union Cemetery for an 8:30 a.m. service.
From there, the Legion will move to Bethel Cemetery at 9 a.m., to Marshalltown Cememtery at 9:30 a.m., Bohemian Cemetery at 10 a.m. and Diagonal Cemetery at 10:30 a.m.
The morning will conclude at Knowlton Cemetery at 11 a.m. for the community observance with speaker Rev. Gwen Trullinger.
The community is invited to a Memorial Day lunch at the Community Building following the Memorial Day activities. The meal is hosted by the United Church of Diagonal.
Clearfield
Clearfield American Legion Post 97 will assemble the Avenue of Flags and decorate graves in the Clearfield Cemetery beginning at 8 a.m Saturday, May 29. The public’s assistance with this work is greatly appreciated.
In case of rain, the work will commence once the rain stops.
On Monday, May 31, the Memorial Day program will get underway at Lion’s Hall at 10 a.m. with Legion chaplain Al Rusk officiating.
Weather permitting, program attendees will proceed to Clearfield Cemetery for a ceremony over the grave of the last decreased veteran’s grave.
At 2 p.m. work will begin to take down the Avenue of Flags. Again, the public’s assistance is needed and appreciated
Grand River
There will be a Pancake Breakfast at the Grand River Community Center on Monday, May 31 from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m.
The menu will include pancakes, French toast, sausage, fruit, juice, milk and coffee.
A free will donation will be accepted.
There is no alumni meeting this year, but all alumni are welcome to attend and can stay and visit.
At 11:00 a.m. there will be a Memorial Day service at the Grand River Cemetery. However, there will be no lunch afterwards, so come and fill up with breakfast.
Blockton
There will be Memorial Day services on Sunday morning, May 30 at the local cemetery. No further details were available.
