Memorial Day programs, activities planned in the area
Memorial Day programs and activities will be held throughout the area this weekend.
Patoka
A Memorial Day dinner will be held from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Patoka Service Center.
The menu will include ham and turkey with all of the trimmings, drinks, and homemade pie and cake. The cost is $8 for adults and $3 for children.
A quilt and gun raffle will also be held.
All proceeds from the dinner will be used for the maintenance of Magassi Cemetery.
Brownstown
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9770 of Brownstown will hold its annual Memorial Day services at 11 a.m. on Monday at the Veterans’ Memorial Wall in Brownstown City Park.
The keynote speaker will be J.D. “Butch” Spindler of Robinson, past state commander of the VFW.
Following the program, a free lunch will be served at the park pavilion, compliments of VFW Post 9770. The pledge of allegiance to the American flag will be led by the Boy Scouts.
There will also be a Central Illinois Honor Flight donation container available for those wishing to contribute to the program. All funds collected will be used for the Central Illinois Honor Flight program.
In the event of bad weather, the services will be held at First Baptist Church in Brownstown.
St. Elmo
The American Legion Post in St. Elmo will hold its annual Memorial Day services at 1 p.m. on Monday at the Veterans’ Memorial outside the Phillips Building on U.S. Route 40.
The speaker will be David “Perp” Lavendar of Harrisburg.
Vandalia
• Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie No. 3901 will hold its ninth annual Walk Across America at 1 p.m. on Monday.
The walk to show support for this country’s troops will begin at the Vandalia Statehouse and end at the American Legion Home at 221 S. Seventh St.
• Crawford-Hale American Legion Post 95 of Vandalia will hold its annual Memorial Day program at 1:30 p.m. on Monday.
The program will include patriotic music by Judy Varga and Randy Schukar, and Jake Hathaway will lead the crowd in the pledge of allegiance and the national anthem.
Vandalia Fire Chief Merle Adermann will talk on the importance of local agencies and the American Legion to work together, and Robert Osborne and Mary Horsthemke will read the names of local veterans who have died since Memorial Day 2010.
The keynote speaker will be Dan Hough, assistant state captain of the Illinois Patriot Guard.
Brad Brannon will deliver a eulogy for deceased veterans, Wayne Hathaway will read the poem, “Their Flag,” and Jake Hathaway will close the ceremony with the playing of “Taps.”
