Memorial Day services announced by Legion, VFW Posts

Area American Legion and VFW Posts have announced their Memorial Day weekend schedules.

The public is invited to attend services to honor deceased military veterans, all held on Memorial Day, Monday, May 27, except as noted.

Walker

Spencer-Ross American Legion Post 134 and Legion Auxiliary in Walker will hold services at 10 a.m. Memorial Day, starting with remarks and reflections at the Legion Club’s downstairs banquet room, 407 Front St., Walker.

The Legion Color Guard and Legion guests will then proceed to Walker City Park to place a wreath on the waters of Walker Bay near the lighthouse to honor Navy and Coast Guard veterans.

Other stops will be at Edgewood May Creek Senior Living Campus, Evergreen Cemetery and Turtle Lake Cemetery. At each stop, the Honor Guard will present the colors.

Hackensack

The Hackensack American Legion, Auxiliary and Sons of the American Legion (SAL) will hold Memorial Day services again this year. The first service, conducted by the Auxiliary, will be Sunday, 1 p.m., at Finnely Cemetery just off 43rd Ave. NE.

The Finnely Cemetery contains the graves of about 30 early Hackensack area settlers. The first burial was 1900 and the last was 1923 when the cemetery was closed. The cemetery fell into disrepair until it was reclaimed by the Auxiliary about 36 years ago. Some graves are unmarked, some are simply marked with a rock while others are marked with simple concrete or limestone markers.

On Monday at 10 a.m. Legion Post 202, Auxiliary and the SAL will present a Memorial Day service. The service will start at the Cass County Killed in Action Memorial in the City Park. The service will continue to the Boy River where a wreath will be placed on the water to honor Navy and Coast Guard veterans.

Beginning at 10:30 a.m. a formal service will be held at the Hillcrest Cemetery. The service will include a roll call of 446 deceased veterans from all conflicts, including some from the Civil War.

In the event of rain, services will be held at the Hackensack American Legion.

Laporte

Anderson-Black American Legion Post 462 and Auxiliary of Laporte will hold services Monday to remember veterans who courageously gave their lives —”some gave all.”

Services will begin at Evergreen Cemetery near Kabekona Community Church then move to the Laporte Catholic Cemetery. A brief speech, honor guard, rifle salute and taps will be given at each site.

The main Memorial Day Service will be at 10 at the Laporte School with Honor Guard, speakers, patriotic music, ringing of memorial bell and taps. After the program, the Honor Guard continues to Garfield Lake landing to present a wreath in remembrance of those lost at sea.

The program concludes at Lakeport Cemetery with a brief speech, Honor Guard, rifle salute and taps.

Longville and Remer

Sherman Yochum VFW Post 772 will host Longville and Remer Memorial Day events. The week of May 20, the Post will place markers on the graves of deceased veterans and auxiliary members at Riverside and Salem Lutheran cemeteries in Longville, and Fairview Cemetery in Remer.

On May 24-25, Post members will be out and about in Longville and Remer requesting donations at their annual Poppy Drive

In Longville the Memorial Day program begins at 9:30 a.m. at the Longville FireHall, with the VFW Post 772 Honor Guard.

Guest speaker will be Rob Walton, owner of Damsite Supper Club in Pine River. In 2018, Robert started providing free meals for local veterans in his own home and at his own expense. This led to the purchase of the Damsite Supper Club in Pine River. Rob is still providing free meals to all veterans every Wednesday at the restaurant. He is also the founder and chairman of the 501(c)(3) non-profit Minnesota Veterans Project (MVP). Their mission statement is “to serve those who have served by closing the gap between services available and services needed by today’s veterans and their families.”As part of this project, they are currently building a house for a homeless Vietnam vet in the Pine River area. Rob’s generous spirit is evident in many areas of his life, and the community is fortunate to have him as a part of it.

The program continues at 2 p.m. at Fairview Cemetery on Hwy. 4, Remer, with VFW Post 772 providing the honor guard.

Backus

Backus American Legion Post 368, Legion Auxiliary and Sons of The American legion will conduct services Monday at Evergreen Cemetery in Backus and Ponto Lake Cemetery.

Backus services will begin at 10 a.m. with Ponto Lake Cemetery to follow at about 11 a.m. In case of inclement weather, services will be moved indoors to the Backus Legion Hall and Ponto Lake Town Hall.

Guest speaker will be Pastor Blair Ecker of Pine Mountain Gospel Church, Backus.

Pastor Ecker was born and raised in the Pine River-Backus community, served in the U.S. Navy from 2000-2004, and has been pastor of the Pine Mountain Gospel Church since 2012 and Principal of Foothills Christian Academy since 2018.

Lunch will be served at approximately 1 p.m. at the Backus Legion Club following the Ponto Lake service.