Memorial Day events planned throughout area Monday

Veterans organizations throughout the region are hosting observances on Memorial Day and invite the public to join them in honoring those who have served in all branches of the military.

A memorial ceremony will be held at the Osage Centre in Cape Girardeau, hosted by the Joint Veterans Council, which is made up of the Marine Corps League, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3838, American Legion Post 63, the SeaBees, the Disabled American Veterans Chapter 16 and the VFW Post 3838 Auxiliary.

Retired U.S. District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh Sr. of Cape Girardeau will speak at the service, which will kick off at 10:30 a.m. with music from the Cape Girardeau Municipal Band, followed by a formal program at 11 a.m. Mike Morgan, Seabees commander, will serve as master of ceremonies.

Burt Lehman of American Legion Post 63 said the council is especially honored to be joined by Zone 4 Vice Commander of the State of Missouri for the American Legion Dennis Woeltje, who will participate in the "covering of the POW-MIA chair" in memory of prisoners of war and soldiers missing in action. The POW-MIA flag will be posted according to custom at the back of the hall, separately from the other groups' colors.

Special guests from the Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau will be seated at the front of hall and the commanders of each council group will take part.

The ceremony will also include a wreath-laying and "tribute to the fallen" and the Marine Corps League will fire a traditional three-volley salute. The playing of taps will conclude the program.

Lehman said the public is invited to attend and 500 or more seats will be available. For more information, contact any member of the Joint Veterans Council or Lehman at 335-8813.

In Jackson, American Legion Post 158 and its auxiliary invites the public to a ceremony at the entrance of the Jackson City Cemetery on South High Street. It will begin with music by the Jackson Municipal Band at 9 a.m. followed by a program featuring guest speaker Kenneth Bender.

Bender, of Cape Girardeau, served in the U.S. Air Force as an aerial gunner on a B-29 Superfortress and completed 22 combat missions over Japan. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, three Air Medals, two Bronze Stars and two Presidential citations.

"Everyone is invited to attend our Memorial Day service in Jackson to honor all of veterans who gave their lives so we may enjoy our freedoms every day. Their patriotic spirit must be preserved for future generations in order to maintain a country that will always remember that freedom is not free," said David Ludwig, legion commander, in a news release.

Following the service, the auxiliary will serve a complimentary continental breakfast at the American Legion Post 158 at 319 N. High St. and the public is welcome. In case of bad weather, services will be held at the American Legion Post hall.

For more information, contact Ludwig at 243-8366.

In Perryville, Mo., VFW Post 4282, along with American Legion Post 133, is hosting a parade that will march at 9:45 a.m. from the Legion Post parking lot at 98 Grand Ave. to the Perryville Courthouse. The VFW, U.S. National Guard, AMVETS, American Legion and local Scouting groups will participate.

A ceremony will follow at 10 a.m., with master of ceremonies Brian Brickhaus and guest speaker Jerry Hotop. There will be a placing of wreaths ceremony, memorial rifle salute by the VFW Post 4282 Honor Guard and the playing of taps.

Immediately following, short ceremonies will take place at the following cemeteries: Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery, Home Cemetery, St. Boniface Cemetery, Mount Hope Cemetery and Legion Lake for the Lost at Sea Ceremony.

For more information, call 547-6509.

Other observances

• The Missouri Veterans Commission will be holding a ceremony at 1 p.m. at the State Veterans Cemetery at 17357 Stars and Stripes Way in Bloomfield, Mo., with keynote speaker Stan Baughn, MVC Cemetery Program Director and U.S. Air Force Veteran. For details, contact the cemetery at 568-3871
• VFW Post 5363 in Oran, Mo., will place flags on graves at the Old Morley Cemetery and the New Morley Cemetery, as well as on the hill at the turnoff to Oran off U.S. 61. All three events will take place at 8 a.m. and the public is invited. For more information, contact Donald Ward at 262-2433.
• VFW Post 3455 in Anna, Ill., will host a public memorial service at 11 a.m. at the post headquarters at 70 VFW Lane. For details, call 618-833-5182.
• VFW Post 10495 in Jackson, in cooperation with American Legion Post 158, placed large flags Friday at the veterans memorial in Brookside Park, off Independence Street, across U.S. 61 from Jackson City Park. Small flags were placed Friday at graves at the Jackson City Cemetery and Saturday at Russell Heights Cemetery.

salderman@semissourian.com

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Pertinent address:

1625 North Kingshighway Street Cape Girardeau, MO 63701

319 N. High St, Jackson, MO

98 Grand Ave, Perryville, MO

17357 Stars and Stripes Way, Bloomfield MO

Oran, MO

70 VFW Lane, Anna, IL