Northwest Iowa — Memorial Day will be observed in the United States on Monday, May 29th.
Originally called “Decoration Day”, and celebrated on May 30th, the day was created to honor Civil War dead. It has since been expanded to honor all veterans who have died in service to the United States, and Memorial Day is now observed on the last Monday of May.
In addition to national observances, many local communities will hold Memorial Day services and events in Northwest Iowa.
In Sheldon, flags will be displayed at the Sheldon City Park. They are going to be put out on Saturday, May 27th, at 7:00 a.m. weather permitting, and will be taken back down on Monday, May 29th, at 5:30 p.m. Over thirty volunteers are needed to help put the flags out and take them back down. If you are able to help, you are asked to meet at the City Park.
Also, everyone is welcome to help the Sheldon American Legion decorate the graves of veterans for Memorial Day weekend. This will be done on Friday, May 27 at 9:00 a.m. If you would like to participate, they ask you to meet at East Lawn Cemetery for instructions. Take down will occur Monday, May 29th right after the flags are taken down in City Park.
Sheldon’s Memorial Day Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Monday in the Sheldon High School auditorium. The guest speaker will be Pastor Paul Van Maaren of Sheldon First Reformed Church. All are welcome to come out and honor all those who have served our country. (The Memorial Day Service will be re-broadcast at 12-noon on KIWA-FM 105.3)
In Orange City, the Memorial Day Service will begin at the West Lawn Cemetery at 9:30 a.m. Arlyn Kleinwolterink of the American Legion will have the opening remarks, and the roll of veterans will be read. Orange City Mayor Deb De Haan will have a prayer. Four boys who were selected for Boys State and two girls who were selected to go to Girls State will participate. The Vander Wilt quartet will sing. Koren War Vet Robert Hoogeveen of Sheldon will be the featured speaker. The firing squad will be provided by the American Legion Post #329 of Orange City. Amanda Haverdink will sing the Star Spangled Banner. Kleinwolterink says over 440 flags will be set out at the cemetery.
In Sioux Center, they will start the honors on Sunday evening, May 28th at the First Reformed Church in Sioux Center with a service at 7 p.m. Veterans are asked to arrive before 6:45 to get poppies and line up. Sioux Center’s American Legion Membership Chairman, Ted De Hoogh says the veterans will march in during the service. He says while First Reformed will provide the facility, Central Reformed is in charge of the service, which he says will be broadcast on cable TV so that homebound vets and others can watch. He says the Memorial Day parade will be on Monday morning starting at 9:00 a.m. at the Sioux Center Public Library. He says the parade will process down Highway 75 to First Reformed Church, next to Memory Gardens Cemetary. He says a rifle squad, a color guard, Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, and the Sioux Center High School Marching Band will participate. He says there’s a bike decorating contest before the parade sponsored by the VFW, and the Sioux Center Saddle Club will also participate. The speaker will be retired Navy Chief Chuck Brunsting from Sioux Center. A high school men’s quartet will also sing.
In Sibley, the Memorial Day ceremony will begin at 9:00 a.m. at Holman Township Cemetery. Officer of the day will be Gary Kleve. Pastor Steve Swenson of the Sibley United Methodist Church will have the prayer and the address. The Ritual Service will be performed by the VFW and Auxillary of Post #7373. The firing squad will be provided by members of VFW Post #7373 and American Legion Post #324 of Sibley. The Sibley-Ocheyedan Band will play Taps and the Star Spangled Banner.
At Rock Rapids, veterans and volunteers will honor fallen veterans on Friday, May 26th at 6:00 p.m. at Riverview Cemetery by placing flags on their graves. The Avenue of Flags will be put out at 7:00 a.m. on Monday. Volunteers are asked to report to the cemetery. The Rock Rapids Memorial Day Ceremony will be on Monday, May 29th at 10:00 a.m. at Riverview Cemetery. Lawn chairs are welcome. In event of rain, the service will be held at the Forster Community Center. The Central Lyon High School Band will provide music, under the direction of Sherwin Langholdt. The Central Lyon 7-8 Band will provide music at the Doon Memorial Day Observance.
The George American Legion, Jack Sauter Post 404 will put up the Avenue of Flags at the Evergreen Lawn Cemetary in George at 7 AM on Memorial Day. They will take them down at 4 PM. Listen to KIWA in the event of rain for any updates. The George Memorial Day honors will start at 9:15 a.m at the bridge south of George. At 9:30 a.m. they’ll be at the Veterans’ Memorial. The Memorial Day Service will start at 10 a.m at the George/Little Rock High School and will proceed to the cemetery at 11:00 for the laying of the wreath. The special speaker will be Pastor Steve De Haan of Hope Reformed Church. Four veterans will be recognized for their service to the American Legion. Clarence Stubbe will be recognized for 70 years of service. Two veterans will be recognized for 50 years of service, and one for 25 years of service. Stubbe says his speech will be about the sinking of the USS Indianapolis on July 30th, 1945. Music will be provided by George-Little Rock High School.
In Ashton, the Memorial Day observance begins on Saturday morning at 10 when crosses and flags will be placed on veterans’ graves. On Monday at 6 a.m. flags will be placed in the Avenue of Flags at the cemeteries. Events at the Ashton Legion Community Center will begin with coffee and rolls at 8:30 and a Service of Remembrance at 9:30 a.m. Featured speaker will be Retired Major Josh Haack of Primghar. At 10:30 citizens will gather at the cemeteries for a Roll Call of Departed Veterans and a rifle salute. Plans are to retire the crosses and flags at 4 p.m. on Monday. The Ashton Town and Country Committee will serve a Pork Loin meal at the Community Center from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Free will offering. All are welcome.
In Melvin, American Legion Post 470 invites everyone to observe Memorial Day services at Baker Cemetery, two miles east and two miles north of Melvin, beginning at 10:30 a.m on Monday, May 29th. Those attending are urged to bring lawn chairs for their comfort. In case of inclement weather, the ceremonies will be held in the American Legion Community Center in Melvin.
In Little Rock, there will be a Memorial Day program at the George/Little Rock Elementary School in Little Rock at 10:00 a.m. Rev. Matt Miller of Bethel Reformed of rural Little Rock will be the speaker. This will be followed by a service at the Pleasant View Cemetery, where all the names of those whose graves have been decorated will be read. Afterwards there will be refreshments at the Little Rock Town and Country Building downtown.
As always, the United States Flag will be flown at half-staff until noon on Memorial Day, and it should then be raised to full height from noon until sundown.
The US Flag Code says that the flag, when flown at half-staff, should be first hoisted to the peak for an instant and then slowly lowered to the half-staff position.
