2004 Year in Review

Memorial Day Services

Banner on back of veterans hayrack

A large crowd, despite storm clouds hovering over, gathered at the cemetery for the annual Memorial Day services, which began at 11 a.m. on May 31. According to Joe Klimson, only twice since 1946 has the Memorial Day parade been cancelled and the services moved inside.

The parade began the Memorial Day ceremony at 10:30 a.m. on Main Street and then proceeded north on Genesee Street to the cemetery. This year’s featured speaker was Sergeant Brian Brackemyer who served in Grenada, Kuwait and the first war in Iraq. He is now serving in the National Guard. He read a Veteran’s Poem Eulogy. Mayor Roger Drey explained about the Veterans' Park and Memorial. He stated as he walked through the memorial sight one day that it gave him a chill and brought a tear to his eye, as it is a physical reminder of the sacrifice of our veterans.

Last Saturday 755 flags were placed on grave sites of veterans in Grove Hill Cemetery.Richard Groharing said that in the cemetery there are veterans buried from every major conflict and squirmish except the Revolutionary War. Jim Prombo also read a poem entitled Remember Me which was about the American flag. The Morrison High School band played the Star Spangled Banner and God Bless American, and the Robed Choir sang Chester a Revolutionary song. The services ended with Rev. Julie Bunt giving the benediction, Harriet Schroeder laying the wreath at the Grave of the Unknown Soldier, the gun salute and the traditional playing of Taps.

See more Memorial Day photos at PHOTO ALBUM

by Dawn Zuidema, theCity1.com
May 31, 2004