February 6, 2012

Memorial Day Programs in Elgin, Monday, May 30, 2011 The Elgin Patriotic Memorial Association, in cooperation with the city of Elgin, will sponsor a variety of programs for Memorial Day. 7:30 a.m. – Fox Trot - The day’s events will kick off at the Valley Fox Trot in the downtown area with a color guard and the singing of the National Anthem. Map & Directions 8:45 a.m. - Mount Hope Cemetery - At Mount Hope Cemetery, 1001 Villa Street, there will be a Catholic Mass along with a combined color guard, rifle salute, and playing of Taps. Map & Directions 9:15 a.m. – Lakewood Memorial Park - A service to honor those buried at Lakewood Memorial Park located at 30W730 US 20 will be held at the cemetery’s Garden of Honor and include a combined color guard. The observance will conclude with a rifle salute and the playing of Taps. Map & Directions 9:45 a.m. – Veterans Memorial Park - A program to honor those who lost their lives at sea will include the strewing of flowers into the Fox River followed by a rifle salute and the playing of Taps. The program, which will feature the Elgin Choral Union, will be held at the new Veterans Memorial Park located on the north side of the Gail Borden Public Library 270 N. Grove Avenue. Use Eastbound Kimball St. from Rt. 31 to reach the area because of street closings related to the Fox Trot. Map & Directions 11 a.m. – Bluff City Cemetery - An Elgin tradition since 1868, the highlight of the morning will be a community service at Bluff City Cemetery, 945 Bluff City Blvd. Local students will also continue the long held tradition of reading Lincoln's Gettysburg Address and General John Logan’s Orders which established Memorial Day. This years' program will pay tribute to the 20th anniversary of the start of the Persian Gulf Wars and the 150th anniversary of the start of the Civil War. The keynote address will be given by Jacob Zimmerman, president of Military Branches United at Elgin Community College and a Veteran Service Officer at the Illinois Dept. of Veterans' Affairs. The program will also feature the Central High School Band and the Elgin Choral Union. The most solemn moment of the morning will be the laying of organizational wreaths at the Grand Army of the Republic memorial – an observance akin to the laying of the wreaths at the Tomb of the Unknowns in Washington D.C. Activities will conclude with the roll call of deceased veterans, a rifle salute, and the playing of Taps. Again this year - A free shuttle bus will pick up riders at the main gate and east gate before and after the service for transportation to and from the ceremony area. Map & Directions Residents are encouraged to visit our local cemeteries during the Memorial Day period. At Bluff City Cemetery, flags honoring local veterans line the streets as part of the award winning “Avenue of Flags.” There are also more than 2500 smaller flags flying over veterans graves placed by local volunteers as part of the “Adopt a Cemetery” program.