Several area service groups will be conducting official ceremonies on Monday, May 28, in recognition of Memorial Day.
Centralia American Legion Post 17 will hold its annual ceremony at Claquato Cemetery beginning at 10:30 a.m. on Memorial Day. That traditional service will include a color guard and assorted presentations from local Boy Scouts and representatives from the Veteran’s Memorial Museum in Chehalis.
According to Bob Terrell, Centralia’s post adjutant, public participation in Memorial Day ceremonies has waned somewhat over the years but the veterans at Claquato still receive plenty of attention.
“Memorial Day used to be Decoration Day, they changed the name a long time ago, and we’re honoring all of the fallen veterans so people decorate all of the graves,” explained Terrell. “We’re not getting as many young people but we still get more than 100 people when we have our ceremony out there. And the Boy Scouts really enjoy doing this. We take the flags out there and they put out about 800 of them all around the ceremony and then pick them up for us too.”
In South Lewis County, American Legion Post 101 and veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3409, along with Boy Scout Troop 324, will make the rounds on Monday in order to honor lost veterans at several cemeteries.
As at Claquato, the general public is invited to attend any of the ceremonies along the route. That Memorial Day schedule will unfold as follows:
• 8:30 a.m. Meet at Veterans Hall located at 575 Nevil Road, Winlock
• 9:30 a.m. Napavine Cemetery
• 10 a.m. St. Urban Cemetery
• 10:30 a.m. Vader Catholic Cemetery
• 11 a.m. Little Falls Cemetery
• 12 a.m. Winlock Cemetery
A potluck lunch will begin at St. Francis Hall in Toledo immediately after the proceedings at the Winlock Cemetery. Food items may be delivered to Veterans Hall in Winlock at 8:30 a.m. or to St. Francis Hall at 11:30 a.m. After lunch the patriotic memorial services will resume according to the following schedule:
• 1:30 p.m. St Francis Mission Cemetery
• 2 p.m. Lone Hill Cemetery
• 2 p.m. Toledo Cemetery
• 3 p.m. Ceremony at the Veterans Wall of Honor, Toledo City Park
Additionally, the Cpl. Christopher Nelson American Legion Post and Auxiliary of Rochester will hold an honorary service at the Ground Mound Cemetery in South Thurston County at 11 a.m. on Memorial Day. That ceremony will also be open to the general public. The Grand Mound Cemetery is located at 6300 83rd Avenue, Rochester.
Questions regarding the Lewis County Memorial Day ceremonies can be directed to Wendy Carolan, American Legion Post 101 Publicity Chairman, at 360-785-0929, or by email to mommytaz@hotmail.com.
Additional information about the Grand Mound ceremony can be obtained from post commander Chuck Bergeron at 360-508-9462, and Centralia American Legion Post 17 can be reached by phone at 360-480-9874.
