C. Oregon Memorial Day observances set
Seven Central Oregon communities will host Memorial Day observances on Monday, May 27th.
Here’s a list, as compiled by the Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs:
Bend
May 27 – 8 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. – The opening ceremony for We Are Remembering-Not Just a Number precedes the continuous reading of 6,600+ names of fallen American veterans in Operations Iraqi/Enduring Freedom/New Dawn at River Bend Park, on Columbia Ave. Color Guard, Flag Line, Bagpipers: Bend Band of Brothers.
Tracy Miller, 541-310-0701, firstamendmentsightings@live.com
1 p.m. – Annual ceremony and services at Deschutes Memorial Gardens, Hwy. 97. Ceremony will honor Korean War and Vietnam War veterans. Speaker: Col. (ret) Mike Brock, USMC. Poppy March held during the ceremony. Reception following at VFW Post 1643, 1503 NE 4th St.
Bob Cusick, 541-389-0775
La Pine
May 27 – 11 a.m. – A ceremony will be held at Community Cemetery, Reed Rd. off Hwy 97 with an open house afterwards at the American Legion Post 45, 52532 Drafter Rd.
Pat Cotton, 541-536-1402
Madras
May 27 – 12 p.m. – Tribute ceremony at Sahalie Park, at 7th & B Streets, is hosted by American Legion Post 125. Free Hot Dog BBQ will follow. Donations accepted. Music: Tucker Band.
Keegan Hodges, 541-350-8009
Prineville
May 27 – 11 a.m. – Annual parade from the Courthouse to the Firefighter Memorial Park, followed by a ceremony at Juniper Haven Cemetery, hosted by VFW Post 1412 and American Legion Post 27.
John Ferguson, 541-447-2329
Redmond
May 27 – 11 a.m. – Ceremony at Redmond Cemetery, Yew Ave. and Old Bend-Redmond Hwy, featuring an Avenue of Flags with 1,250 displayed downtown. Speakers: Brig. Gen. (ret.) Dennis Merrill, Mayor George Endicott.
Dennis Guthrie, 541-280-5161
Sisters
May 27 – 11 a.m. – A memorial service will be held at the Village Green Park, at Fir St. and Washington Ave. followed by a BBQ. Speaker: Jim Horsley, former Navy Blue Angels pilot.
Pat Bowe, 541-588-0192
Terrebonne
May 27 – 9 a.m. – A memorial ceremony will be held at Pioneer Cemetery, 485 NW Larch Ave.
Dennis Guthrie, 541-280-5161
The complete statewide list can be found at:
http://oregondva.com/2013/04/29/oregon-memorial-day-events-set/
As part of the annual Memorial Day celebrations statewide, the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs (ODVA) will host a memorial ceremony on Monday, May 27 , at 3 p.m., on the department’s grounds in Salem, 700 Summer St. N.E.
The public ceremony will honor one fallen Oregon service member, U.S. Army Capt. James D. Nehl, Gardiner, Ore., who died Nov. 9, 2012 while serving in Afghanistan. Nehl’s name will be added to the Afghan-Iraqi Freedom Memorial where the names of 137 other Oregon men and women who have given their lives while serving our nation are inscribed. All names on the memorial will be read during the ceremony.
ODVA Director Cameron Smith, an Iraq War veteran, will be the keynote speaker. An Oregon National Guard Honor Guard will present military honors.
Memorial Day, or Decoration Day as it was originally called, was first observed on May 30, 1868 as a day to place flowers on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. The holiday’s name was later changed to Memorial Day. In 1971, it became a federal holiday to be observed on the last Monday in May.
