Friday, May 26, 2023
AUBURN, Ind. – Memorial Day weekend is not only a time to celebrate the unofficial beginning of summer it is also a time to pay respect to, honor and remember those who have lost their lives while serving our country.
The Auburn American Legion Post 97, 1729 Sprott Street, will be presenting its annual Memorial Day service at 11 a.m. Monday in front of the cannon at the southwest corner of the DeKalb County Courthouse Square.
This year the service will include guest speakers Mayor Mike Ley, Senator Dr. Tyler Johnson and Pam Shook, president of the Indiana Department of American Legion Auxiliary. A flag burning ceremony and meal will follow at the legion post. All are welcome.
Memorial Day began as Decoration Day in 1868 to honor those who lost their lives during the Civil War. On the first Decoration Day, General James Garfield made a speech at Arlington National Cemetery, while 5,000 participants decorated the graves of the 20,000 Civil War soldiers buried in the cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.
In 1968 Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which established Memorial Day as the last Monday in May. The change went into effect in 1971.
There are several other celebrations and services throughout the county this Memorial Day weekend. They include:
- Butler American Legion Post 202 service at the Butler Cemetery, C.R. 28, (Monday, 11:30 a.m.) with guest speaker Mayor Mike Hartman. Light lunch follows at the legion.
- Garrett American Legion Post 178 (Monday, 11 a.m.) with guest speaker Mayor Todd Fiandt. The American Legion color guard will meet for breakfast at 6 a.m. Monday at Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1892 in Garrett. The unit will then offer memorial ceremonies at seven local cemeteries, beginning at 7 a.m. in Christian Union Cemetery on C.R. 7 north of S.R. 8. The color guard will also conduct a brief service at 10 a.m. in the park next to city hall in downtown Garrett, followed by a service at Altona Town Hall at 10:15 a.m.
- The Town of Waterloo will host a service at 11 a.m. Monday at Veterans Memorial Park, 385 W. Walnut Street, Waterloo. The guest speaker will be Pastor Sam Weicht, the Waterloo Girl Scout Troop 50690 and Auburn Troop 30034 will post the colors. The park board will present a wreath at the monument honoring all who served and paid the ultimate price.