The following are events planned for Memorial Day, Monday, May 25, 2015 by the Elgin Patriotic Memorial Association in cooperation with the city of Elgin. For further information, visit www.elginmemorialday.org
Mount Hope Cemetery, 8:45 a.m. 1001 Villa Street Elgin, IL
There will be a Catholic Mass along with a combined color guard, rifle salute, and the playing of Taps.
Lakewood Memorial Park, 9:15 a.m. 30W730 US 20 Elgin, IL
A service to honor those buried at Lakewood Memorial Park located at 30W730 US 20 will be held at the cemetery’s Garden of Honor and include a combined color guard. The observance will conclude with a rifle salute and the playing of Taps.
Elgin Veterans Memorial Park, 9:45 a.m. 270 N. Grove Ave. Elgin, IL
Organized by the Elgin Navy Club, this program is especially designed to pay tribute to veterans interred at sea. The program will include a keynote address by Lieutenant Adrienne Townsend - staff chaplain from Great Lakes Naval Training Station.
The program will also feature the Elgin Master Chorale, and conclude with the strewing of flowers into the Fox River, a rifle salute, and the playing of Taps. Elgin’s Veterans Memorial Park is located adjacent to the Gail Borden Public Library at 270 N. Grove Ave
Bluff City Cemetery, 11:00 a.m. 945 Bluff City Blvd. Elgin, IL
An Elgin tradition since 1868, this year’s program will pay tribute to those women who served as nurses in the military and include a keynote address by Lorraine Darr, former United States Air Force nurse in Vietnam.
This year’s program will also include the Elgin Master Chorale and the Larkin High School Band. Local students will continue the long held tradition of reading Lincoln's Gettysburg Address and General John Logan’s Orders which established Memorial Day.
The most solemn moment of the morning will be the laying of organizational wreaths at the Grand Army of the Republic memorial – an observance akin to the laying of wreaths at the Tomb of the Unknowns in Washington D.C. Activities will conclude with the roll call of deceased veterans, a rifle salute, and the playing of Taps.
Following the program, Civil War historian Ken Gough will be on hand to help anyone wanting to learn more about many of the Civil War era graves in the cemetery.
Again this year - A free shuttle bus will pick up riders at the main gate and east gate before and after the service for transportation to and from the ceremony area.
Special Note - The 11 AM program will also be broadcast live on WRMN Radio, 1410 AM.