Kalona and Richmond

The Richmond Amvets Post 107 will be conducting Memorial Day ceremonies on May 31 in Kalona and Richmond, according to Post Commander Kevin Reece.

Ceremonies will be held at the Sharon Hill Cemetery Unknown Soldiers Monument in Kalona at 10:15 a.m. with the Mid-Prairie Marching Band providing music.

The Amvets and Mid-Prairie Marching Band will then conduct services at the Richmond Catholic Cemetery followed by services at the Richmond public cemetery.

With the help of students from the Mid-Prairie School, some 100 flags in the Avenue of Flags at the Sharon Hill Cemetery will be put up starting at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, May 28 and will remain up through May 31.

Jan Peterseim thanks the Kalona community for the generous response to the plea for donations to repair flags for the Avenue of Flags. 

Riverside

On Wednesday, May 26, 2021, members of the VFW Post #6414 Riverside will place flags and crosses at the graves of veterans who are laid to rest at St Vincent and St. Stanislaus cemeteries beginning at 9:30 a.m. 

On Thursday, May 27, poles for the flags will be placed at Mt. Olivet Cemetery and the Riverside Public Cemetery at 10 a.m. 

On Friday, May 28, flags and crosses will be placed at Mt. Olivet Cemetery and the Riverside Public Cemetery beginning at 5:30 p.m.  Volunteers from the community are welcome to help with the placement of the flags and crosses. 

On Sunday, May 30, the Avenue of Flags will be raised at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, the Riverside Public Cemetery and the Riverside Veteran’s Memorial Park at 7 a.m.  Volunteers from the community are welcome to help.

On Monday, May 31, Memorial Day Services will be held at 10 a.m. at the Riverside Public Cemetery. The order of the program will be:

• “America the Beautiful” performed by Cindy Michel.

• Opening prayer recited by Bev Schneider, VFW Auxiliary Chaplain.

• Placing of the bouquets acknowledging all wars: Riverside Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts.

• Memorial Day Address: Senior Master Sergeant Pamela Flynn, USAF, Retired.

• “Star Spangled Banner” performed by Cindy Michel.

• Veterans of Foreign Wars Presentation of Arms.

• Taps.

Memorial Day Services will continue with the VFW Post #6414 Honor Guard and VFW Auxiliary Color Bearers traveling on to St. Vincent’s Cemetery at approximately 10:30 a.m. and St. Stanislaus Cemetery at approximately 11 a.m. with the Presentation of Arms. The last stop will be at the English River Bridge south of Riverside at approximately 11:30 a.m. to honor those Lost at Sea.    

The VFW Honor Guard and VFW Auxiliary Color Bearers will retire to the VFW Post #6414 where a luncheon will be served by the VFW Auxiliary to honor all veterans at noon. All veterans and their guests are invited to attend. 

On Monday, May 31, the flags and crosses will be taken down at 5 p.m.  Volunteers from the community are welcome to help.

In case of rain the Memorial Day services will be held at the VFW Post #6414, 1259 Riverside Road, Riverside.

Wellman

Wellman American Legion Post 427 will hold Memorial Day services at the Wellman Cemetery at 9 a.m., according to Commander Chuck Singleman.

The Mid-Prairie Marching Band will perform, followed by a 21-gun salute by the American Legion Post 427 Honor Guard.

Commander Chuck Singleman will also deliver a Memorial Day speech.