The Elgin Patriotic Memorial Association has been planning Elgin’s Memorial Day events each year since 1892. Once again, in commemoration of Memorial Day, the Elgin
Patriotic Memorial Association has will host several family events on Monday, May 30, 2011at various locations throughout the city.
The day’s schedule of events are as follows:8:45 a.m. - Mount Hope Cemetery, 1001 Villa Street Catholic Mass along with a combined color guard, rifle salute, and a playing of Taps.
9:15 a.m. – Lakewood Memorial Park, 30W730 US 20- Across from Villa OliviaService to honor those buried at the cemetery will be held at the Garden of Honor and include a combined color guard, rifle salute and the playing of Taps.
9:45 a.m. - Veterans Memorial Park- adjacent to Gail Borden Public Library, 270 N. Grove Ave.Conducted by the Elgin navy Club and the Marine Corps League, the program will feature the Elgin Choral Union and honor those who lost their lives at sea. Service ends with the strewing of flowers into the Fox River, rifle salute, and the playing of Taps. Use Eastbound Kimball from Rt.31 to reach Grove Avenue and park in the Gail Borden Public Library parking lot. Douglas Avenue will be closed due to the Fox Trot race. ( see attached press release for traffic details).
11:00 a.m. - Bluff City Cemetery, 945 Bluff City BoulevardProgram will pay tribute to the 20th Anniversary of the start of the Persian Gulf Wars and the 150th Anniversary of the Civil War. Keynote speaker will be Jacob Zimmerman, President of the Military Branches United at Elgin Community College and Veteran Service Officer at the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs. Also featured will be the Central High School band and the Elgin Choral Union.
Local students will continue the long 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 memo-rial – an observance akin to the laying of wreaths at the Tomb of the Unknowns in Washington D. C. Activities will conclude with roll call of deceased veterans, a rifle salute, and the playing of Taps. As in previous years, there will be free shuttle pick-up at the main gate and east gate.
For more information about the day’s activities, please visit www.elginmemorialday.org. or follow on Facebook.