2005 Year in Review

Memorial Day

Bill Brackemeyer presents John Dickey with an employer award.

Color Guard

Bob Vaughn - Featured Speaker

Memorial Day proved to be a beautiful day for a parade. Sunny skies appeared, unlike last year with storm clouds and rain. The annual parade made its way down Main Street to Genesee and traveled north to Grove Hill Cemetery for the ceremony which took place there.

Morrison Police Department led the parade followed by the Color Guard members. Antique vehicles carrying Keynote people and veterans waved from antique vehicles and trucks. The Shriners with their Wheel Horse Patrol weaved their way around the street. The crowd clapped as a hayrack carrying veterans passed. Other groups participating in the parade included Morrison Fire Department, Morrison Ambulance, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts and the Junior High Band.

Jim Prombo was this year’s Master of Ceremonies. Prombo a retiring school principal was also a Marine Veteran.

An emotional Bill Brackemeyer presented an Employer Award to his boss John Dickey, owner and operator of J.A. Dickey Jr. Excavating as an appreciation for Bill’s absence from work while he served his country.

Bob Vaughn was the featured speaker at the Cemetery. Vaughn a Vietnam Veteran and owner of the City Rebar Detailing and thecity1.com told of experiences in Vietnam and included in his speech excerpts from a letter he had written home and one of a Civil War Veteran from Morrison.

Joe Klimson was awarded an achievement award from the Morrison VFW for his dedication to the organization. Joe will be moving to Ottawa.

Betty Mosher carried out the traditional ceremony of the laying of the wreath for the Unknown Soldier.

Morrison Junior High Band under the direction of David Bean and the Junior High Mixed Chorus directed by Darlene Palmer performed patriot numbers during the ceremony.

The Veteran’s Memorial Park was a big attraction to the ceremony as people slowly and quietly walked through it viewing the howitzer, the slabs, containing the names of veterans lost in wars and memorial bricks, which pave the park.

For photos see Memorial Day. The pictures at the cemetery were taken by Greg Pruis.

by Dawn Zuidema, theCity1.com
June 2, 2005