American Legion Family leads Memorial Day efforts nationwide

As the country begins to return to some normalcy, American Legion posts were able to return to more traditional ways of honoring Memorial Day this year.

From Legionnaires taking part in a ceremony at the birthplace of Memorial Day, to events in Washington, D.C., and a big welcome-home to veterans in Florida, it was once again a busy weekend for The American Legion.

The following are a few more examples of how American Legion Family members led or assisting in commemorating Memorial Day events from coast to coast. Remember to share your Memorial Day events on Legiontown.org.

California

In Porterville, American Legion Post 20 conducted its annual Memorial Day observance at Hillcrest Cemetery. Post 20 Legionnaires posted the Flag of Honor to remember former member and Korean War veteran Joe Lopez, which was followed by the Parading of the Avenue of Flags through Hillcrest Cemetery by Post 20’s color guard, the California Cadet Corps and the Porterville High Panther Band. American Legion Auxiliary Unit 20 members Karen Herrera and Honey Chapman also presented a memorial cross. Post 20 Commander Mike Smith provided the opening remarks and made it a point to remember the 13 servicemembers killed last summer in Afghanistan, reading off their names and a short summary of each of them. “They represent the best of a generation … (and) will forever be in our hearts,” Smith said.

Colorado

In Fort Morgan, American Legion Post 19 conducted a Memorial Day service at Riverside Cemetery to honor those who died in service. Post 19 Senior Vice Commander Steve Fontes was the main speaker and shared the history of Memorial Day, how it has evolved and that, in his opinion, fallen soldiers would have wanted others to enjoy the day through spending time with family and friends, grilling out and other traditional Memorial Day Weekend activities.

“This one’s for you, my brothers and sisters. Thank you for your sacrifice,” Fontes said.

After the cemetery service, the post’s honor guard and members of the community went to the Rainbow Bridge, tossing a wreath into the South Platte River to honor those lost at sea.

Georgia

As it has done for more than 35 years, American Legion Post 32 in Covington conducted a Memorial Day service on Covington Square. During the ceremony, the names of 83 Newton County residents who lost their lives in World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War and the Gulf War were recited. 

A wreath presentation followed, and taps was played to honor the memory of all fallen soldiers.

Illinois

In Chester, American Legion Post 487 hosted a service in conjunction with VFW Post 3553. The service included a memorial tree placed in the post’s club room, on which guests were encouraged to attach an index card with the name, rank, and location of departed veterans written on them. The index cards were attached using a poppy. The service also included the reading of the names of 28 veterans from Chester who passed away between June 2019 and May 2022.

Kansas

In Abilene, members of James R. Cutler Post 39’s Legion Family traveled to six locations to perform Memorial Day ceremonies: the Veterans’ Memorial in Abilene Cemetery, Abilene Place, 8th Street Bridge over Mud Creek, Village Manor, Eisenhower Museum, Brown Memorial Home and Solomon Veteran Memorial in that order. Each ceremony included a wreath laying, a rifle salute and the playing of taps

“Memorial Day is the day we not only honor fallen veterans, but we also honor those veterans who are still with us; not waiting until they are in the ground,”Post 39 Commander Eddie Avinger said.

Kentucky

· In Georgetown, American Legion Post 24 conducted its annual pilgrimage to county cemeteries to honor the veterans buried there. Each stop includes songs and prayers, along with the reading of the names of each fallen soldier and a 21-gun salute. Dozens of family members and friends attended at each cemetery. “We’ll read the names to about 1800 veterans,” Post 24 Commander Jim Woodrum told WTVQ. “I want to remember the veterans that have passed in previous wars. That’s what this day is really all about.”

· In Lyon County, American Legion Post 68 staged its “Flags of Honor” dedication on Memorial Day in front of the Lyon County Courthouse. Many members of The American Legion participated in Monday’s Memorial Day ceremony in Lyon County. Flags were purchased by community members to honor a veteran in their lives; each flag was labeled with the veteran’s name. Those who attended were invited to speak about the veteran they were honoring.

Maine

In Farmington, Roderick-Crosby American Legion Post 28 conducted Memorial Day remembrance ceremonies at the WWI Teague Memorial Arch and Meeting House Park. Following the ceremony at the arch – which was attended by local students, Scouts and around 60 community members – Post 28’s honor guard led a procession that included Auxiliary Unit 28, the Mt. Blue High School marching band and others in a parade to Meeting House Park. There, wreaths were placed at the Civil War obelisk, WWII Honor Roll and the Freedom Memorial. Post 28 First Vice Commander Stephan Bunker delivered remarks highlighting the importance of honoring and remembering those veterans who sacrificed their lives in defense of the nation.

Minnesota

In Park Rapids American Legion Post 212’s Legion Family conducted a ceremony that began at Park Rapids Area High School with the recognizing of Gold Star parents and servicemembers currently missing in action or considered prisoners of war.

Third-generation Post 212 Legionnaire Bill Rothermel, who served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1995 to 2021, spoke during the ceremony. He shared the story of a former platoon mate and close friend, Chris Raible, who was killed in 2012 when Taliban fighters breached their camp. Rothermel attended Raible’s funeral at Arlington National Cemetery.

“I was there that day, and I saw the terrible sadness but also the immense pride of his wife and two kids,” Rothermel said. “It’s a very challenging thing to balance those two emotions that we all have. Sometimes we lose. We don’t win everything. It’s incumbent upon all of us to take those losses and grow from it, learn from it, be better from it. Remember what they gave for us.”

Post 212 First Vice Commander Randy Tyge read the names of 60 local veterans who passed away over the last year, while the high school band performed a musical salute to the U.S. Armed Forces. A wreath-laying ceremony followed at the Red Bridge Park, then continued at the All Veterans Memorial.

Mississippi

In Wesson, American Legion Drane-Prine Post 79’s Legion Family teamed with the Wesson Garden Club to place a memorial wreath at the town’s Blue Star Highway Marker to start Memorial Day weekend. Members of the community attended the ceremony, as did Legion Family members from the district and department

Post 79 Commander Bobby Thornton provided remarks, saying “As a nation, we are to remember and honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. It is a somber day, but it is also a day of thanksgiving for the sacrifices made by these brave men and women. Throughout this Memorial Day weekend, let us reflect as a nation, on the price of freedom and the many soldiers, airmen, Marines, and sailors’ lives that were lost to protect it. Let us also remember the families who lost a loved one in service to our country and for those who have given so much for our freedom.”

Montana

· In Red Lodge, Carbon Post 17 members met for breakfast at 7 a.m. before driving to Belfry for a 20-minute ceremony at the local cemetery, followed by a ceremony at the cemetery at Bear Creek before heading back to Red Lodge to participate in the Memorial Day parade. Following the parade, Post 17 members visit the Red Lodge Cemetery where veterans from as far back as the Civil War are laid to rest. Post 17 members then traveled to Roberts to take part in its parade before performing a final ceremony at the cemetery there. Prior to Memorial Day, a group of Post 17 Legionnaires place more than 250 small U.S. flags on any veterans’ graves they located.

· In Choteau, C. James Smith Post 6’s American Legion Family sponsored its annual Memorial Day service at Choteau Cemetery. Post 6 Chaplain Kenneth Bassmann gave a brief welcome prayer, calling on those attending to remember the men and women who gave their lives in service of the United States. “Memorial Day seems to have lost much of its meaning,” he said. “Many regard it simply as the start of summer vacation. For those of us, however, who have served or have a family member who has served, this day provides a meaningful remembrance for the time they committed to ensuring the safety and security of our country.” Bassmann also read the names of the 36 servicemembers from the area who died since Memorial Day 2021. As the names were read, Auxiliary Unit 6 members placed red paper poppies on a Memorial Day wreath.

New Jersey

In Bridgewater, American Legion Post 327’s annual Memorial Day parade saw first responders, veterans, a band and township officials participate. A memorial service followed at Ardmaer Park.

New Mexico

In Deming, hundreds attended American Legion Bataan Post 4’s and its Auxiliary unit’s Memorial Day event at Mountain View Cemetery. The ceremony included several guest speakers, the playing of service songs and the reading of names of veterans who have passed away this year. Those attended the ceremony were invited to a free lunch at the post afterward.  

Two days prior, members of Post 4 and other volunteers places more than 900 U.S. flags on the gravesites of veterans buried at the cemetery.

New York

· In New York City, American Legion Lt. Kimlau B.R. Post 1291 was again the organizer of the annual Chinatown Memorial Day Parade, which concludes at Kimlau Square for a wreath-laying ceremony.

· In the Village of Cassadaga, members of Memorial Post 1280 paid tribute to veterans buried in 11 local cemeteries. The post’s honor guard and Auxiliary Unit 1280 members drove to each cemetery; each stop included a 21-gun salute, the reading of the meaning of Memorial Day, a prayer and the playing of taps.  

North Carolina

· In Lenoir and in the town of Hudson, local Legionnaires took part in various ceremonies. In Hudson, American Legion Post 392 Commander Lorenzo Kelly read the names of servicemembers from Hudson and Caldwell County who died while in service to the nation from World War I to the War on Terror. In Lenoir, members of Post 29 took part in a ceremony at the downtown square.

·  In Matthews, included in Hooks-Orr American Legion Post 235’s Memorial Day service was the transferring of post commander duties from Mark Tofano to Stephen Wilfong. The ceremony included patriotic songs played by the Matthews Concert Band, members of Opera Carolina singing the national anthem performed the National Anthem, and speakers explaining the meaning of Memorial Day symbols. 

· In East Bend, Joseph E. Martin Jr. American Legion Post 336 used Memorial Day Weekend to dedicate a new veterans memorial. The new memorial includes stone monuments surrounded by flag poles; as part of the ceremony, flags for each branch of service, including the newest addition of the Space Force, were raised by veterans representing each branch.

Oregon

· In Springfield, American Legion Post 40 conducted its 73rd annual Memorial Day ceremony at the Springfield Veterans' Memorial Plaza. Speakers at the event included Springfield Mayor Sean VanGordon and Springfield Police Chief Andrew Shearer. 

·  In Eugene, after having to cancel events the previous two years, Memorial Day was back on at Eugene Pioneer Cemetery. "We're very grateful to be able to come back after a two-year absence and have such a good turn out; it was really such a wonderful ceremony today," American Legion Post 3 Commander James Walsh told KEZI. "For me it's a way of recognizing those who have given their all and are no longer with us.” 

Pennsylvania

·  In Newtown, members of American Legion Post 440 provided honors and 21-gun salutes at the gravesite of Morell Smith, the only Newtown resident to die while serving in the U.S. military, and at the grave of Raymond Carter, a founding member of Post 440. The Legionnaires then rejoined Newtown’s Memorial Day parade, stopping to lay wreaths at the town’s World War I monument. Legionnaires also took part in the town’s ceremony. “As we gather on this Memorial Day let us remember it is to honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice,” Post 440 Commander Bill Harper said. “Memorial Day is a day of remembrance for the men and women who have died while serving the United States Armed Forces. It’s a day to honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. Memorial Day is also a time to reflect on the cost of freedom and to honor the families of the fallen soldiers. They sacrificed as well and deserve our support and admiration.”

· In Oley, members of Oley American Legion Post 878 visited seven area cemeteries to honor the veterans buried there.

West Virginia

In Cameron, American Legion Post 18 continued its annual tradition of creating a Field of Flags, this year joining with community volunteers to place 1,120 flags, each representing a veteran from the community. Post 18’s honor guard also presented the flags during a Memorial Day observance.

Wisconsin

In Lomira, Bintzler-Waehler American Legion Post 347 visited 11 local cemeteries to present the colors, provide a rifle salute and play taps to honor the veterans buried there. More than 400 deceased veterans were honored this year.