MONTPELIER: May 26, 2014-The Village of Montpelier held Memorial Day observances throughout the Village on May 26, recognizing the sacrifices our servicemen and women have made for our nation.
Montpelier’s first event of the day began at 7:00 a.m. at the Village Fire Department with a pancake and sausage breakfast. The breakfast is a long running tradition on Memorial Day and this year the department celebrates their 125th anniversary.
The day’s main event kicked off from the Montpelier Courthouse building with a parade featuring the Montpelier Police Department, followed by the Honor Guard from the Montpelier American Legion, Post 109 and the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 944 along with Chapter 83 of the Disabled American Veterans. The Montpelier Marching Band followed the honor guard, setting a marching cadence for parade participants along the route. Also joining the parade was Boy Scout Troop 1125 and Cub Scout Pack 25 from Montpelier. Rounding out the marchers were several bicycle riders, with their rides decorated in patriotic red, white and blue.
The parade procession stopped on the St. Joseph River Bridge for a Ceremony held by Reverend Dave Tilly and Michelle Schudel, where a dedication was made to our nation’s fallen heroes and flowers were dropped into the river in remembrance.
The parade proceeded to its final destination, the Civil War Monument at Riverside Cemetery, where a wreath laying ceremony took place under the guidance of Master of Ceremonies Larry Lee from Post 109.
Ceremonies at the Civil War Monument opened with the playing of The Star Spangled Banner by the Locomotive Band, followed by the Invocation by Pastor Don Harris. Mayor Steve Yagalski addressed the assembled crowd, delivering the Memorial Day Speech then handing over the podium to Andrew Warner of the Boy Scouts of America, who then completed a full reading of President Lincoln’s “Gettysburg Address.” The laying of the Memorial Day Wreath by Bob Wurm and Dave White highlighted the day’s event at the Monument.
Closing the ceremony out at the Civil War Monument, Pastor Tilly delivered a closing message to the crowd and spoke eloquently about the sacrifices our nations veterans have made. Pastor Benaiah Harris delivered the Benediction and the Post 109 Honor Guard firing detail fired a salute to the fallen, preceded by Taps and closing out Montpelier’s Memorial Day Ceremony.