Americans will pause to remember the brave men and women who have given their lives in defense of our nation, from the Revolutionary War to the worldwide war on terrorism on Memorial Day, May 29. Observances are scheduled around the county as follows:
Churdan – Mass will be celebrated at St Patrick Church in Cedar Township at 8 am followed by a brief service at the St Patrick Cemetery. The Churdan American Legion Post 198 will hold a Memorial Day observance at Highland Township Cemetery in Churdan at 9:30 am. The Town and Country Band, directed by Chad Schmertmann, will provide music.
Scranton – Memorial Day services will be held on Monday at 9:45 am at the Scranton Township Cemetery. Al and Cheryl Robson have headed up the committee in planning the event. Tim Robbins will offer a prayer.
Jefferson Boy Scout Troop 534 will raise the flag and lead the guests in the Pledge of Allegiance. The Greene County High School band will play the National Anthem. Kara Betts and Michael Kennedy will sing patriotic music. Hannah Promes will give the address. They are Greene County High School students.
Veterans in attendance will be recognized. The band will conclude the program with “Salute to Freedom Medley” followed by Taps.
The roll call of names of those buried in the past year in Scranton Cemetery will be read as a final tribute.
For guaranteed, comfortable seating, bring your own lawn chairs. In case of bad weather, the service will be held in the Scranton Community Center (gynmasium).
Jefferson – A short service will be held at St Joseph Catholic Cemetery at 9:30 a.m. A joint VFW / American Legion firing squad will salute fallen heroes while Taps is played.
The service at the Jefferson Municipal cemetery will begin at 10:45 am. The Jefferson fire department will raise the American flag and the Lindsey Medal of Honor flag, followed by “Salute to Freedom” by the high School band. Pastor Gordon Moen of the First Presbyterian Church will give the invocation.
Patriotic essay winners will read their entries. Sgt Major Jim Riley (Ret) will present the Memorial Day address followed by the National Anthem played by the band.
The ceremony will conclude with a salute to fallen heroes by the joint VFW / American Legion firing squad, followed by Taps.
Rippey – On Memorial Day the Kinkead-Martin American Legion Post #583 will be at Fairview United Methodist Church at 9 am for the services and perform its ceremony at the cemetery afterwards. Legionnaires will be at the Angus Cemetery at 10, Old Rippey Cemetery at 10:30, and the Rippey Cemetery at 11. There will be a meal following the Memorial Day services at the Rippey United Methodist Church.
Paton Township – The Memorial Day service will be held at the Paton Township Cemetery at 10:30 am Monday. Volunteers are needed to put up flags Saturday at 8 am, and to take them down Monday at 7 pm.
Franklin Township – There will be a brief service at the Franklin Township Cemetery in Cooper on Memorial Day at 11 am. Pastor Larry Monthei will provide a benediction and the Jamaica American Legion Paul Johnson Post 687 will participate.
Dillavou Cemetery – The Memorial Day service at the Dillavou Cemetery north of Ralston will be held at 2 pm on Monday. The guest speaker is Jim Irlmeier, a Vietnam veteran associated with the Merle Hay Legion Post in Glidden. Pastor Jan Kolar of the Raccoon River Bible Camp will give the invocation and benediction.
Bring your lawn chairs. In case of rain or high winds, the service will be held at the Ralston Community Church.
Grand Junction – There will be no Memorial Day services at the Junction Township Cemetery nor Mount Calvary Cemetery, but the Grand Junction fire department will erect the Avenue of Flags at both cemeteries.
~The Scranton Journal and GreeneCountyNewsOnline
