Memorial Day observed at area cemeteries
Staff writer
The Memorial Day holiday gave many in the area a chance to show their respect to loved ones. Area cemeteries were lined with flags and had services commemorating those who died serving their country in the armed forces.
For the first time the Avenue of Flags at Prairie Lawn Cemetery was lighted. Members of Peabody American Legion Post 95, VFW Post 6229, the Auxiliary, and Sons of the American Legion spent the past several weeks putting the lights in place.
Many took the opportunity to drive the avenue after dark to see the display.
Nearly 100 attended the Memorial Day service Monday morning at Hillcrest Cemetery near Florence. The Rev. Bill Dyar of Florence United Methodist Church was the speaker. John McKay Post 308 gave the firing salute with M/Sgt. Terri Lehman laying a wreath on the Legion post monument. The ceremony also was lined with flags for the traditional service.
Services were held at Prairie Lawn Cemetery Monday morning. A prade of the 8th Kansas Volunteer Infantry brought the sounds of the Civil War up the avenue. Marching to fife and drum, the soldiers followed the colors of American Legion Post 95 and VFW Post 6229 to the Soldiers Monument where the service was held.
The monument, which was dedicated in 1901, is surrounded by Old Soldiers plot.
Tom Schmidt, a sergeant of the volunteer infantry, spoke to the crowd of more than 300 people about the history of an old soldier.
An ensemble of PBHS high school musicians provided special music.
The Girl Scouts presented the flag.
The Rev. Jim Pohlman of Peabody Christian Church gave the invocation and the memorial address, which included two poems, each written by related area soldiers during two wars.
Both the Volunteer Infantry and Peabody American Legion post members gave firing salutes.
Terry Iseli, Volunteer Infantry frontier brigade chief musician played Tattoo on the bugle. "Taps" was sounded at the end of the service.
