Memorial Day events remember the sacrifices of veterans

Josiah Randall decorates a headstone in the soldiers plot at the Woodlawn Cemetery in Mound City in a Memorial Day service on Monday. (Except where noted, photos by Roger Sims/Linn County Journal)

On a weekend marking the unofficial start of summer, sunny skies and warm temperatures made for good weather for families to gather together and to decorate the graves of loved ones. But the good weather also made for perfect Memorial Day services around the county.

Beginning with a memorial service and U.S. flag retirement ceremony at the Linn Valley veterans memorial in one corner of the county on Saturday morning to a service in Prescott, veterans began the three-day remembrance of those who were lost.

On Monday morning, services were held at La Cygne, Pleasanton, Mound City and Centerville.

Color guards presented the flags, rifle details fired volleys, and trumpets sounded “Taps” in remembrance of those who sacrificed their lives for freedom.

American Legion Hewitt New Post No. 248 rifle detail member Kris Wharton has a salute returned by a young attendee at the Prescott service on Friday. (Photo by Joanna Meyer)

Color guard members for the La Cygne service include Jim Farris, George Nunnemacher, Bob Burnett, Ron Price, Richard Teagarden and Bill Marchand.

Author and historian Todd Mildfelt's speech at Mound City includes a newspaper account of the Memorial Day events of 1888 when the monument at Woodlawn Cemetery. Nearly 10,000 people attended the dedication then.

Veteran Emil Wilson speaks about the high cost of freedom at the La Cygne ceremony.

The American Legion color guard does its traditional march north on Fifth Street followed by family members and others who will place flowers on the graves in the soldiers plot at Woodlawn Cemetery. Color guard members included Kenny Schmitz, Tony Davila, Kris Wharton, and Jerry Kriley; the rifle detail included Michael Iverson, Walt Johnston, Bill Jordan and Ron Stanley.

Prairie View students Kinsley Beattie, left, and Shawna Case talk about the school's Honor Flight program during the La Cygne service. Both women will accompany veterans on the flight to Washington, D.C., this weekend.

Bugle player James Beltz sounds "Taps" at the conclusion of the service in Mound City.