Published: May 20, 2008 09:33 am      

Memorial Day service to be held at courthouse

By KANDACE MCCOY

kandace.mccoy@register-news.com

MT. VERNON — Even though Memorial Day is traditionally held on May 30, its observation is held on the last Monday in May in remembrance of those who died in our nation’s service. And in following with that tradition, Mt. Vernon American Legion Post 141 will hold a Memorial Day ceremony at 10 a.m. Monday on the Jefferson County Courthouse lawn.

“We do this every year,” said Hank Wulf, Post 141 commander. “It’s important for our youth to realize that what we have costs — freedom isn’t free. Someone has to be there to stand up for what we stand for, and unfortunately, sometimes they have to make the ultimate sacrifice.”

The keynote speaker for this year’s ceremony will be Capt, Mindy Ernst, commanding officer with Foxtrot Company with the Army National Guard here. According to Wulf, Ernst and her company recently returned from Iraq.

Also at the ceremony, the Mt. Vernon Township Chamber Choir will perform the national anthem and “God Bless America.” Gold Star mothers — mothers who have lost a son or daughter in combat — will be making a presentation.

Refreshments will be served following the ceremony at the American Legion. In case of rain, the Memorial Day ceremony will be moved to the American Legion.

Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on May 5, 1868, by Gen. John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, in his General Order No. 11 and was first observed on May 30, 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery.

To help re-educate and remind Americans of the true meaning of Memorial Day, the “National Moment of Remembrance” resolution was passed on December 2000, which asks for all Americans at 3 p.m. local time “To voluntarily and informally observe in their own way a moment of remembrance and respect, pausing from whatever they are doing for a moment of silence or listening to ‘Taps,’” according to www.usmemorialday.org.

Memorial Day services will also be held at Waltonville Knob Prairie Cemetery this Sunday at 1 p.m. According to information submitted by Mary Lance, Jefferson County Board Chairman Ted Buck will be the speaker. Those who attend are asked to bring lawn chairs.