Elgin Patriotic  Memorial  Association     Since 1892..

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2023 Memorial Day Activities in Elgin

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Elgin's 11 AM Bluff City Cemetery Program to pay tribute to the 75th Anniversary of the integration of United States Forces.  Also, will feature the city’s Poet Laureate Gareth Mann

 

The following are events planned for Memorial Day, Monday, May 29th, 2023 by the Elgin Patriotic Memorial Association in cooperation with the city of Elgin.   

 

Mount Hope Cemetery, 8:30 a.m. 1001 Villa Street Elgin, IL

 

There will be a Catholic Mass along with a combined color guard, rifle salute, and the playing of Taps.

 

Lakewood Memorial Park, 9:00 a.m. 30W730 US 20 Elgin, IL

 

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.

 

Elgin Veterans Memorial Park, 9:30 a.m. 274 N. Grove Ave. Elgin, IL

 

Organized by the Elgin Navy Club and the Elgin Marine Corps League, this program will feature the Elgin Master Chorale and is especially designed to pay tribute to Veterans interred at sea. Following a presentation by Elgin Navy Club members, the service will conclude with the strewing of flowers into the Fox River, rifle salute, and the playing of Taps.

 

Elgin’s Veterans Memorial Park is located adjacent to the Gail Borden Public Library at 274 N. Grove Ave.

 

Bluff City Cemetery, 11:00 a.m. 945 Bluff City Blvd. Elgin, IL

 

This year’s program will pay tribute to the 75th anniversary of the integration of United States Forces  The keynote speaker will be American Legion Post #340 Commander Stanley "Curly" Thompson.

 

This program will also include the Elgin Master Chorale and Elgin High School Band.  Local students will continue the long held tradition of reading Lincoln's Gettysburg Address and General John Logan’s Orders which established Memorial Day.

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A poem specific to the day will be composed and read by the city's Poet Lauerate Gareth Mann.

 

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 wreaths at the Tomb of the Unknowns in Washington D.C.  Activities will include a roll call of deceased veterans, a rifle salute, and the playing of Taps.

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Returning 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.

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Because of limited seating, attendees are encouraged to bring a lawn chair.

 

 

Special Note - The 11 AM program will also be broadcast live on WRMN Radio, 1410 AM.

 

 

Special Note:  "Should weather conditions be deemed unsuitable by city officials for outdoor programs an announcement will be made no later than 8:30 am on Memorial Day that the Elgin Veterans Memorial Park and Bluff City Cemetery programs will be held at their normal times at the Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin.  This information will be posted on  and distributed by all possible media.  Please note this possible change does not affect the Lakewood Memorial Park and Mount Hope programs.

 

 

Residents are encouraged to visit our local cemeteries during the Memorial Day period. At Bluff City Cemetery, over 600 flags honoring local veterans line the streets as part of the award winning “Avenue of Flags.” There are also more than 3000 smaller flags flying over veterans graves placed by local volunteers as part of the “Adopt a Cemetery” program.