By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current
The Memorial Day Ceremony will begin at 9:15 a.m. on Monday, May 27, in Geneseo City Park. The annual event is sponsored by the Don Cherry VFW, VFW Auxiliary and the Aisle of Flags.
Music will begin at 9:30 a.m. with the speakers scheduled for 10 a.m.
There will be a “by donation” pork chop lunch served after the ceremony and veterans will eat at no charge. In the event of inclement weather, the program will be held in the Geneseo High School Performing Arts Center.
The invocation will be given by the Rev. Stephen Mueller, Concordia Lutheran Church; Introduction of Distinguished Guests will be by Todd Sieben, U.S. Navy Veteran and Retired Illinois State Senator; with Geneseo Mayor Sean Johnson; Gettysburg Address by Jonathan Freadhoff; In Flanders Field by Hazel Harris; America’s Answer by Beth Mroz; VFW Scholarship Winner, Addison Dykstra Music ;by the Geneseo Middle School Band;
The Memorial Address will be given by Jason Kinnard, Major in the U.S. Army Ret.
Special recognition to area people will be given by Master of Ceremonies Sieben.
The benediction will be given by Rev. Mueller.
Mary Pratt is president of the VFW Auxiliary; Todd Lindstrom is VFW Commander; Ann Heller is DAR Regent and Sara Alexander is Aisle of Flags President.
Gary Gray is the Officer of the Day, with Rhonda Borkgren and Joe Bedford as President of the Day and Sieben will serve as Master of Ceremonies.
Musical selections will be presented by members of the Middle School seventh and eighth grade band under the direction of Sara Hawkins and Jamie Kotovsky.
The Firing Squad and Color Guard – VFW - will be under the direction of Gary Gray. Julia Buzard will be the Bugler and Ben Ott will be the Echo.
The Star Bangle Banner will be played by the seventh & eighth grade band.