Area Memorial Day services slated for Monday, May 29

    Montezuma American Legion Auxiliary Unit 169 President Bea Hensel and American Legion Commander Ron Hensel prepare to place the wreath on the tomb of the unknown soldier as a token of our enduring memory during the 2022 Montezuma Memorial Day services. Montezuma will host Memorial Day Services on Monday, May 29 at 10 a.m.

Following is a list of area Memorial Day services.
 
Montezuma
     Montezuma Memorial Day services will be held at the Masonic IOOF Cemetery near the maintenance building on Monday, May 29 at 10 a.m. The Montezuma Blakely Stevens Post 169 of the American Legion and its Auxiliary are hosting the services.
          Invocation will be under the director of American Legion Post 169 Chaplin Boyd Sparks.
American Legion Post 169 member Larry Steen will sing “God Bless America.”
       Hawkeye Girls’ State Representatives, Samantha Bos and Coral Lowry, will read “Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address.” Boys’ State Representatives, Kaya Bryan, Braxton Simpson and Landen Morrison will follow with the reading of “General Logan’s Orders.”
        Placing of the Wreath on the “Grave of the Unknown Solider” will be under the direction of Blakely-Stevens Unit Auxiliary President Bea Hensel.
        The guest speakers are the 11 members of Post 169 who recently went to Washington, D.C. on the “Honor Flight.”
       The Post 169 firing squad will deliver the three-volley salute. The Montezuma High School Band, under the direction of Carri Burnett, will perform several patriotic numbers, including Taps.
         The Benediction will follow by Chaplin Boyd Sparks.
      In closing, American Legion Post 169 member Larry Steen will lead those gathered in the singing of America’s “National Anthem,” while the colors are lowered at half-staff.
      Following services in Montezuma, American Legion members will travel to cemeteries at West Liberty, Sheley and Ewart for the playing of Taps.
       On Friday, May 26, at 3 p.m., veterans and volunteers will be placing flags on the Montezuma Square, at the cemeteries and on veterans’ graves.
 
Brooklyn and Malcom
      A flag raising ceremony will be held at the Brooklyn Community Estates Nursing Home at 9 a.m., on Monday, May 29 with assembly time at 8:30 a.m. The group will then proceed to the Brooklyn Cemetery for Memorial Day services at approximately 9:15 a.m.
        Speaker for the services will be pastor Josh Gerard of the New Beginnings Church. Others participating will be the BGM High School Band, Poweshiek Pioneers 4-H Club, Madison Moovers 4-H Club and the Girl Scouts. The Legion Auxiliary will place the wreath (in honor of all the service men and women who have answered the last call) with the American Legion Posts 294 and 733 firing squads giving the three-volley salute.
        The BGM High School Band and Legion firing squads will proceed to the Malcom Cemetery, where they will participate in the services at 10:30 a.m.
In case of rain, the services will be held at the high school in Brooklyn and at the Legion Hall in Malcom.
 
Slack-Light, Dresden, Guernsey and Deep River
        The Deep River Morrison Schrader Post 296 of the American Legion is hosting Memorial Day services at four area cemeteries on Monday, May 29.
      The day will begin at 9 a.m. at Slack-Light Cemetery (meet at the Deep River Legion Hall at 8 a.m.) followed by stops at Dresden Cemetery at 9:30 a.m., and Guernsey Cemetery at 10 a.m.
The Deep River service will be held at Golden Rod Cemetery (Community Center if bad weather) beginning at 11 a.m.
       Commander Richard Cheney will conduct ceremony orders followed by the “National Anthem” performed by the Montezuma High School Band under the direction of Carri Burnett. 
The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, led by Girls’ State representative Laila Kercheval, will follow with Post Chaplain Pastor Larry Webber leading the invocation.
     Girls’ State representative Jordan Ranfeld will read “Freedom is not Free.” Auxiliary President Tammi Quinlan will read “Flanders Field” and Francene Cranston will read “Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address.”
      Commander Cheney will welcome all and introduce Auxiliary President Tammi Quinlan, SAL Squadron Commander Bob Wilhelm, 5th District Auxiliary Commander Gary Quinlan and 5th District President Jacki Bolen. They will pay respects to recently departed Veterans and Auxiliary members.
     “Freedom is Not Free,” will be read by Girls’ State representative Jordan Ranfeld. Unit 296 Auxiliary President Tammi Quinlan will read “Flanders Field.” “Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address will be read by Unit 296 Auxiliary member Francene Cranston.
       Guest speakers will include Past National Commander David Rehbein and his wife, Ann, who is the current National Auxiliary Vice President for the Central Region.
     The Montezuma High School Band will perform patriotic numbers with Legion/SAL and Auxiliary representatives depositing wreaths at the markers.
       Auxiliary President Tammi Quinlan and Tami Wilhelm and Legion Past Commander David Maxwell and Adjutant Ed Evans will deposit Wreathes at markers.
        Prayer for the Nation will be under the direction of Pastor Michelle Williamson with the United Church of Deep River.
      Sergeant at Arms will give the "Salute our Departed Comrades.” The three-volley salute will follow with Legion Post 296 Bugler Zach Van Waardhuizen presenting Taps with echo.
       Set out Poppies and the Avenue of Flags will take place on Friday, May 26 at 5 p.m. Flag pick up will be Monday, May 29 at 5 p.m.
 
Grinnell
The Grinnell American Legion Post 53 and the VFW Post 3932 invite area residents to Memorial Day services on Monday, May 29 at 11 a.m. at Grinnell Central Park stage. If it rains, the event will be held at the Elks Lodge.
In addition, there will be a Wreath Laying presentation along with a playing of Taps at 3 p.m. at Hazelwood Cemetery in Grinnell. This ceremony is part of the National Taps Across America Ceremony.
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Victor
The Victor American Legion Post 54 is hosting a Memorial Day service on Monday, May 29 at 10 a.m. The event will be held at the American Legion Post at 601 3rd St. After the service, there will be a short ceremony across the street from the Victor Memorial Cemetery with the laying of the wreath to the Unknown Soldier along with the three-volley salute and Taps