Guide to Memorial Day services around Eastern Iowa

Memorial Day is a federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May. It originated as Decoration Day in 1868 after the Civil War. Memorial Day is a day of remembering the military men and women who died serving our country. Following is a list of Memorial Day services scheduled in Eastern Iowa on Monday:

ANAMOSA

l 9 a.m. - Remembrance service at the war memorial at east end of the courthouse, 500 W. Main St.

l 9:30 a.m. - Parade steps off from Huber Street and goes to Riverside Cemetery.

l 10:15 a.m. - Memorial Day service at Riverside Cemetery. In the event of rain, the ceremony will be held at 10:30 a.m. at the Ellen Kennedy Fine Arts Center at Anamosa High School, 209 Sadie St., and the courthouse ceremony and parade will be canceled.

CEDAR RAPIDS

l 10 a.m. - Metro Area Veterans Council Memorial Day Service at All Veterans Memorial Park, 950 Rockford Rd. SW. Master of Ceremonies is Cary J. Hahn and the guest speaker is retired U.S. Army SSG Ray. Music by New Horizons Band, under the direction of Alan Lawrence. A collection for the Veterans Food Bank is planned. In the event of rain, the program will be moved to Veterans Memorial Coliseum, 50 Second Avenue Bridge.

l 11 a.m. - Memorial Day Service at Cedar Memorial, 4200 First Ave. NE. The event includes patriotic music, rifle volley, taps and a personalized balloon release. Come early to personalize balloons to honor veterans. Fresh and silk flower arrangements will be available at the Chapel Flower Shop located next to the Chapel of Memories. Bring lawn chairs and blankets. In the event of rain, the program will be held in the Chapel of Memories.

CENTER POINT

l 9:40 a.m. - American Legion Memorial Day Parade & Ceremony. Participants are to meet at the LJL Hall, 908 Main St. Parade participants will walk to the bridge on Washington Street and then back to Main Street and continue to the Center Point Cemetery where Dye Benion Legion & Auxiliary 297 members will hold a ceremony. After the ceremony, participants will return to the LJL Hall.

CORALVILLE

l 1:30 p.m. - Veteran's Trail Dedication Ceremony, put on by the Army Corps of Engineers. The ceremony takes place at the East Overlook Picnic Area located on the east end of the Coralville Dam. Honorees this year are Floyd D. Smith, Andrew B. Letarte, Bradley J. Storck, Brandon J. Burgus, Keith J. Hodapp, David L. Schapira and Jacob E. Cannon. These seven veterans are all residents of Johnson County and will be recognized for their service during wartime.

ELY

l 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. - Community coffee at Ely Public Library, 1595 Dows St., features a Civil War discussion with uniformed Union soldier re-enactors and American Legion members.

l 11 a.m. - Memorial Day Service in Rogers Grove Cemetery. Those attending should bring folding chairs.

IOWA CITY

l 8:30 a.m. - Memorial Day Ceremony at Park Road Bridge in memory of soldiers and sailors lost at sea.

l 9:30 a.m. - Memorial Day Service at the Grand Army of the Republic lot, located at the flagpole, at Oakland Cemetery, 1000 Brown St. The celebration includes an invocation, honoring of deceased, unknown soldiers, a reading of the Gettysburg Address and the Retiring of the Colors. This event is sponsored by the Grand Army of the Republic, American Legion Post 17 and Auxiliary, and the Johnson County Military Affairs Association, in conjunction with Iowa City Parks and Recreation. In the case of rain, the ceremony will be moved to 10 a.m. and held at the U.S. Army Reserve Center, 1913 S. Riverside Drive.

11 a.m. - Memorial Day Service at Memory Gardens Cemetery, 2600 Muscatine Ave.

SOLON

l 9 a.m. - Memorial Day Mass in the cemetery at St Bridget's Church, 2136 St. Bridget's Rd. NE. Bring lawn chairs. Mass will be inside if it rains. After Mass, inside the church, there will be a program honoring veterans, deceased family and all members of St. Bridget's community. Following the program, light refreshments and cookies will be served until 11:30 a.m. while the church remains open for fellowship.

WADENA (Fayette County)

l 2:30 p.m. - Civil War Monument Rededication Ceremony at Lima Church, 16550 Heron Rd. The Civil War stone honors Francis Marion Shepard, a soldier who fought at the battles of Boonville, Carthage, Fulton, Martinsburg and Wilson's Creek. Shepard eventually become a law officer in Fayette County and was the first law officer killed in the line of duty in Fayette County. The service begins at the Lima Church and then the public will walk to the Lima Cemetery where the dedication of Shepard's Stone will take place. There will be a salute by American Legion members, taps will be played and the names of all veterans buried in the cemetery will be read. Refreshments at the church follow.

WEST BRANCH

l 2 p.m. - Eastern Iowa Brass Band concert at Herbert Hoover Presidential Library & Museum, 210 Parkside Dr., West Branch. Free. Bring your lawn chair.

- Elianna Novitch, The Gazette