REGIONAL — The Memorial Day programs listed below were provided by community members involved in planning and organizing the events.
WORTHINGTON: The VFW and American Legion Honor Guard will present Memorial Day events at 8:30 a.m. Monday in Garden of Memories, 9 a.m. at St. Mary’s Cemetery, 9:30 a.m. at Worthington Cemetery and 10 a.m. at the Freedom Veterans Memorial. A band concert will follow at 11 a.m. in Chautauqua Park. In the event of rain, the concert will be moved to Worthington High School.
ADRIAN: Memorial Day services will be at 9:30 a.m. Monday in the public cemetery, and 10 a.m. in the Catholic cemetery. Lunch will follow at the hall.
ASHTON, Iowa: The Ashton Legion will open at 8:30 a.m. Monday, with coffee and rolls served from 9 to 9:30 a.m. The service begins at 9:30 a.m., followed by a cemetery service at 10:30 a.m. Lunch will be served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Ashton Legion for a freewill donation.
BEAVER CREEK: Memorial Day services will begin with a coffee hour at 9:30 a.m. Monday, with the service to begin at 10:30 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church, Beaver Creek. Guest speaker is John Roberts of Baltic, South Dakota, a 22-year veteran of the U.S. Marines and National Guard. Cemetery services with Honor Guard will be at 11:30 a.m. The public is invited to attend.
ELLSWORTH: A Memorial Day program will begin at 9:30 a.m. Monday, at the Ellsworth School gymnasium. All are welcome to attend.
HARDWICK: The Hardwick Memorial Day Program will begin at 10 a.m. Monday at the Hardwick Veterans Memorial. In case of inclement weather it will be held at the Hardwick Community Hall. Guest Speaker is U.S. Army Retired Colonel Kim Henningsen of Jefferson, S.D. Henningsen served in the U.S. Army for 34 years and did two tours in Vietnam. Patriotic Readings by Kiesli Smith, 2023 Girl Stater and Gunnar Oldre, Army ROTC Cadet, University of Notre Dame. Special Music by Madi Oye. Coffee, juice and cookies will be served following the program. Sponsored by Hardwick American Legion Post 478.
FULDA: The Fulda Veterans Color Guard will host military services at Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery at 7:30 a.m.; St. Gabriel’s Cemetery at 8 a.m.; and Prairie Hill Cemetery at 8:30 a.m. Monday, with a lakeside service at 9:30 a.m. and Memorial Day program at approximately 10 a.m. at Fulda High School. Guest speaker is Loy Woelber. Lunch will follow the program in the high school cafeteria.
HERON LAKE: The Heron Lake Legion Auxiliary will present a Memorial Day Program at 9 a.m. Monday at the Heron Lake Community Center. The guest speaker will be Kenneth Pederson, who served in the Vietnam War. Coffee and rolls will follow.
JACKSON: The parade begins at 9:30 a.m., leading to Ashley Park, where honors will be presented to all military branches, and a speaker will give an address. Following that, a short program honoring veterans of all wars will take place at Riverside Cemetery (West Cemetery).
LISMORE: The Lismore American Legion and Auxiliary of Schaap Galagan Post 636 will host a Memorial Day program at 10 a.m. Monday in the Lismore Legion Hall, followed by military services at St. Anthony, Lismore City and St. Anthony West cemeteries. Following the services, all are invited to a community potluck meal at the Legion Hall.
LUVERNE: A Memorial Day service will begin at 10:30 a.m. Monday at Maplewood Cemetery, hosted by the Dell Hogan Post 123, Luverne VFW Post 2603 and the Legion Auxiliary. Also, the Herreid Military Museum will be open from 2 to 4 p.m. Monday, with Trumpeter Dale Nelson to play Taps Across America at 3 p.m. Following Taps, the names of Rock County’s KIA and MIA will be read and a wreath laid at the obelisk at the Rock County Veterans Memorial at the Courthouse Square, 213 E. Luverne St., Luverne.
MELVIN, Iowa: A Memorial Day program will begin at 10:30 a.m. Monday.
OCHEYEDAN, Iowa: A Memorial Day program will begin at 10:45 a.m. Monday at the Ocheyedan Township Cemetery.
OKABENA: The Memorial Day program will begin at 10 a.m. at the American Legion Hall. Cemetery services are set for 8:30 a.m. at Grace Lutheran Church Cemetery, 8:50 a.m. at Old Rost Cemetery, 9:15 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Cemetery and 9:40 a.m. at St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery.
ROUND LAKE: The Memorial Day Program will begin at 10:30 a.m. Monday at the Round Lake Legion Post, 409 2nd Ave. Guest speaker will be Brent Widman. Following the program, weather permitting, the Honor Guard will proceed to the Round Lake Cemetery to honor our fallen comrades. A light luncheon in the Legion Post will be served following the ceremony at the cemetery. The public is invited to attend
SIBLEY, Iowa: The Sibley Memorial Day Service will begin at 9 a.m. Monday at Holman Township Cemetery, Sibley. In case of rain, services will be at the American Legion building. Gary Snow, of Sibley VFW Post 7373, is the speaker. The Rev. Jordan Jeffre will give the invocation. The VFW and Auxiliary 7373 will lay the wreath, and members of the VFW and American Legion Post 324 will offer a salute. The Sibley-Ocheyedan High School Band, under the direction of Matthew Morgan, will play Taps, as well as “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
WESTBROOK: The Westbrook American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars will host Memorial Day events on Monday with a visit to Rosehill Cemetery in rural Westbrook at 9 a.m., a visit to the Mennonite Cemetery in rural Westbrook at 9:15 a.m., and a Memorial Day program at 10:30 a.m. at the Westbrook-Walnut Grove High School gymnasium. Guest speaker is Rev. Dr. Charlene Rachuy Cox. A brief ceremony at the Veterans Memorial in Westbrook Cemetery will immediately follow the program at the school. In the event of rain, outdoor activities will be canceled.
WILMONT: Wilmont VFW Post 2603 will conduct Military Honors at 8:30 a.m. Monday at the Reading Cemetery, at 9:30 a.m. at St Kilian Cemetery and 10:30 a.m. at the Wilmont Cemetery, followed by lunch and fellowship at the Post Home in Wilmont. We will also have a quilt raffle.