Thursday, May 21st, 2015
Local Memorial Day services planned
By Daily Standard Staff
Several local churches and veterans groups will be hosting services this weekend to honor current and former military members and those who gave their lives in the line of duty.
Celina
Celina veterans groups will assemble in downtown Mendon at 8:30 a.m. Monday to march to the river. Music will be performed by the Parkway High School Band, flowers will be cast into the river and a firing squad will form at the bridge railing to perform a salute to the dead. The assembly will then regroup and march to the park, where Pastor Dean Bruce will give an invocation and mayor John Boroff will speak. Wreaths will be placed and there will be another salute to the dead.
The group will assemble at 10 a.m. at the Mercer Memory Gardens where the National Anthem will be played and wreaths will be placed. Commander Karl Hagaman of VFW Post 5713 will be the speaker and VFW Chaplain John Schmidt will lead the group in prayer. Another salute to fallen comrades will be given.
At 10:45 a.m., the group will assemble on Lake Shore Drive in Celina for an 11 a.m. service. Mercer County Veterans Service Officer Tom Risch will make the opening comments before the Celina High School Band plays the National anthem. Pastor Mark Wakeland will deliver the invocation, Homer Burnett of Lots for Soldiers will speak and wreaths will be placed. A firing squad will salute the dead.
Following the morning's events, a meal will be available at the Celina American Legion for all participants and their families.
St. Henry
In St. Henry, a 9 a.m. Mass at St. Henry Church will honor veterans. After the Mass, a service will be held at the St. Henry Cemetery with the St. Henry American Legion present and St. Henry High School Band playing music. After the service, the assembly will travel to the Burkettsville Cemetery and have another service.
Fort Recovery
The Fort Recovery American Legion Post 345 and VFW Post 6515 will conduct their Memorial Day service Friday at 7 p.m. The service will start at the Wabash bridge on North Wayne Street. After the service, the veteran groups, high school band, scouts, 4-H clubs and firefighters will march in the parade to Monument Park.
At the park, past VFW commander Leon Johnson will speak and the high school band will play several patriotic selections. The honor guard will perform a 21-gun salute and play taps.
On Sunday, memorial services will be at 12:01 p.m. at Springhill Cemetery and 12:45 at the Fort Recovery Catholic Cemetery.
Coldwater
Coldwater's Memorial Day services will take place Monday. VFW Post 5135 and American Legion Post 470 will participate at the 7:15 a.m. Mass. Coffee and donuts will be served after the Mass in the church basement.
Services at Coldwater Memorial Park will begin at 10 a.m. Cemetery services will follow immediately after the park services at St. Elizabeth Cemetery and then at 11:30 at St. Mary Cemetery, Philothea.
St. Marys
The St. Marys American Legion Post 323 will host a parade Monday at 9 a.m., with a route running from Chestnut Street to the Elmgrove Cemetery.
Following the parade, a service will be held in the cemetery. Mayor Patrick McGowan will be the guest speaker at the service.
New Bremen
In New Bremen, a Memorial Day service will be held in the German Protestant Cemetery along Lock 2 Road. Village councilman John Schwartz will be the guest speaker. The New Bremen High School Band will perform select patriotic songs.
Minster
The village of Minster has Memorial Day services taking place at the St. Augustine Catholic Church. The church will have a 10 a.m. Mass on Sunday honoring veterans and a Memorial Day service Monday at 11 a.m. featuring a 21-gun salute to honor fallen veterans. A local choir will sing at the service.
Marion community
In the Marion community, memorial Masses have been scheduled for Monday at the St. Sebastian church and in the St. Charles main chapel. St. Sebastian's memorial Mass will begin at 9 a.m. and St. Charles' Mass honoring veterans will begin at 8:30 a.m.
Rockford
A Memorial Day parade will take place in Rockford at 10:30 a.m. Monday. The parade will begin near the football stadium, move down Main Street and end at Hedges Park at the Rockford American Legion. Veterans groups, the Parkway High School Band, the color guard and others will take part in the parade.
A service will take place in the park following the parade with Tina Heitkamp speaking. There will be a salute to fallen soldiers while the Parkway High School Band performs. Wreaths will also be placed during the service.
Chicken dinners will be available after the service for $7. They can be purchased at the door, at the American Legion or be purchased pre-sale at Barry's Family Market or at the American Legion.
