Although rain threatened the outdoor observances for Memorial Day 2017, ceremonies in several area communities continued, aided by some well placed colorful umbrellas. The program held at Roadside park was preceeded by a flag ceremony that took place at the Minnesota Veterans Home in Hastings. The crowd then assembled at the Park for the 10 am ceremony. While the audience may have been slightly less than attended in the brilliant sun of 2016, most planned for the unpredictable late spring weather and filled the lawns surrounding the Veteran’s Memorial. The national anthem was sung by Gordon Gathright, then a wreath was placed on the memorial by the Post Commanders of the American Legion and VFS. An invocation was delivered by Pastor Paris Pasch followed by a greeting by Mayor Paul Hicks.
A reading was given by the winner of the 2017 Patriot Pen award. Sam Krehbeil wrote on the America he believes in
Rebecca Schill was this year’s Voice of Democracy winner. She offered her view of what our responsibility to America is.
Father John Echert gave the Memorial Day address.He relayed the experiences he had in service for those wounded in the Iraq War.
Father Echert ended his address with his wish for America.
Pastor Parish Pasch closed the cermony with a prayer.
We will present portions of the ceremony that took place at St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Prescott in our newscasts on Tuesday.
