WILLMAR — Willmar veterans raised the Flags of Honor on Friday on the east side of Willmar Lake. Squads of veterans from the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, AMVets and others placed flags on the graves of every veteran in the area. On Memorial Day, the veterans will visit each cemetery where they will read the roll call, fire a rifle salute and play taps.
About 2,000 flags were put on veterans’ graves.
The schedules for the routes are as follows:
Willmar route: Vinje 7:45 a.m., Bethel 8, St. Mary’s 8:15, Calvary 8:30, Homewood Park 8:45 a.m., Flags of Honor site 9 a.m.
Northwest route: St. John’s 7:30 a.m., Salem Covenant 7:45, Mamrelund 8, Lundby 8:15, Church of God 8:30, Nannestad 8:40, Lake Florida 9:05 and Solomon Lake 9:15 a.m.
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Northeast route: Long Lake 7:20 a.m., Eagle Lake 7:35, State Hospital 7:45, Cloverleaf 8:05, Tripolis 8:30, Oak Park 8:40, Oak Hill 8:50 and Svea 9:15 a.m.
Memorial Day Services
On Monday, the observance and program is at 11 a.m. at Fairview Cemetery in Willmar.
Auxiliary members and others will gather near the cemetery chapel at 10:30 a.m. to walk as a group to the observance to honor fallen comrades. Everyone is welcome to set up their lawn chairs and then join them for the short walk.
John Christenson, DAV Commander, will give the welcome. Pastor Paul McCullough will give both the invocation and benediction.
There will be an introduction of Gold Star parents and other special guests.
The program will include the presentation of General Logan’s orders by Wyatt Dahline and Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address by David Reyes.
The address will be given by Todd Howard, VFW 1639 Senior Vice Commander.
There will be a silent tribute to the unknown soldiers and a wreath will be placed in their honor.
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“In Flanders Field” will be read by Wyatt Larson, followed by the reading of the roll call of deceased veterans for the past year by Jon Lindstrand.
The national anthem will be played by the Willmar Senior High School band and there will be a flag-raising ceremony.
The Veterans Central Council Honor Guard will provide the rifle salute, followed by the band playing taps.
In case of inclement weather, the program will be held at the National Guard Armory.
The flags of honor will be taken down at 5 p.m. Monday and the veterans will return to the cemeteries to remove the flags, weather permitting.
Families of deceased veterans in the Willmar area are reminded that extra flags and star markers for veterans’ graves are available.
If a veteran’s grave does not have a star marker and flag, one can be obtained in front of the chapel at Fairview Cemetery. There will also be some available at the American Legion and VFW in Willmar if needed at other cemeteries.
Regional celebrations
Appleton: The Memorial Day program will begin at 9 a.m. Monday at the Appleton City Cemetery. Rich Anderson, former Lac qui Parle Valley school counselor and Vietnam veteran, will give the address.
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Benson: The Memorial Day program will be at 10 a.m. Monday at the city cemetery. There will be no parade this year.
Bird Island: The Memorial Day program will begin at 8:45 a.m. outside at St. Mary’s flagpole.
Clara City: The Memorial Day program will be at 9:30 a.m. Monday at Bethany Reformed Church.
Danube: The Memorial Day program will be at 9 a.m. Monday outside the Danube school.
Darwin: The Memorial Day program will be in a drive-in style at 10:30 a.m. Monday at the Hantge Funeral Chapel parking lot. Retired Air Force Sgt. Susan Cron will give the address.
Dawson: The Memorial Day parade will form at the city library at 10 a.m. Monday and go to the Dawson Cemetery for the 11 a.m. program. The address will be given by Pamela Gregor.
Kerkhoven: The Memorial Day program will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Hillside Cemetery. Pastor Josh Hamm of the Evangelical Free Church will give the address.
Litchfield: The Memorial Day parade will begin at 9:30 a.m. Monday at the Grand Army of the Republic Hall and proceed to the Litchfield Cemetery across from Lake Ripley for the program.
Madison: The Memorial Day program will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the cemetery. Retired Army Lt. Col. Kris Shelstad will give the address.
Maynard: The Memorial Day program will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the Maynard Veterans Memorial Park/City Park.
Milan: The Memorial Day program will be at 10 a.m. Monday at the Kviteseid Lutheran/Milan Methodist Cemetery followed by one at Big Bend Lutheran Cemetery.
Montevideo: The Memorial Day program will be at 11 a.m. at Sunset Memorial Cemetery. American Legion Lee-Osborn Post 59 Commander Arnie Solmon will give the address.
New London: The Memorial Day service for vets lost at sea will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at the Mill Pond.
Olivia: The Memorial Day program will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the Olivia Cemetery.
Paynesville: The Memorial Day program will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the Veterans Memorial at the American Legion.
Raymond: The Memorial Day parade will begin at 9 a.m. Monday at the school and proceed to Fairview Cemetery for the 115th annual program. The parade will reassemble and proceed to St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery for another program.
Renville: The Memorial Day program will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Fairview Cemetery.
Sacred Heart: The Memorial Day program will be at 9 a.m. Monday at the Community Center.
Spicer: The Memorial Day program will be at 9:45 a.m. at Pirrotta Park in downtown Spicer.
