Local American Legion posts will offer Memorial Day services this year while maintaining social distancing. The following are the schedules:
Kendall
On Monday, May 25, we celebrate Memorial Day. This year will be different from years’ past. Most events have been canceled. There will not be speeches or the roll call of our fallen heroes that gave their last full measure to ensure that we have our freedoms to worship and assemble and bear arms. This year is different.
The Kendall American Legion will remember area veterans this Memorial Day by performing military honors at local cemeteries and at our Kendall Area Veterans Memorial. We will not have our normal programs.We will say a prayer. We will fire a three-shot volley to signify “duty, honor, and sacrifice.” We will play “Taps.” We will not have a social gathering afterward. We will honor our veterans. We will encourage social distancing.
Our Kendall Legion Military Honors Team will depart our Legion Hall at 9:30 a.m. en route to St. Luke’s Cemetery, Fountain Lutheran Cemetery and the Kendall Area Veterans Memorial. We invite area residents to join us if you are able, but our ceremony will be short yet dignified and respectful.
In 1982, President Ronald Reagan concluded his Memorial Day remarks at Arlington National Cemetery with achallenge: “Earlier today, with the music that we have heard and that of our National Anthem — I can’t claim to know the words of all the national anthems in the world, but I don’t know of any other that ends with a question and a challenge as ours does: Does that flag still wave o’er the land of the free and the home of the brave? That is what we must all ask.”
Those words still ring true to this day. — Commander Doug Rogalla
Ontario
The Ontario American Legion will conduct salutes at Johnny Cake at 9 a.m., the Kickapoo River in Ontario at 9:15 a.m., the Old Ontario Cemetery at 9:30 a.m., Hillside Cemetery at 9:45 a.m., and the Ontario Veterans Memorial at 10 a.m. No program will be offered afterward. — Commander Bob Wruck
Wilton
The Wilton American Legion will honor the veterans on Memorial Day as usual, starting at 9:30 a.m. at the Catholic cemetery. There will be no potluck at noon. Please use social distancing. Thank you. — Commander Jerome Von Haden
