By Brenda Erdahl
Memorial Day is a day to honor our country’s fallen soldiers, that has not changed.
What has changed is how those fallen soldiers will be honored.
Every year in Maple Lake the American Legion and VFW honor guards lead a parade through town to the veterans memorial at the Community Park where a well attended ceremony is put on that includes speakers, prayers, rites and music from the high school band.
This year, thanks to COVID-19 and social distancing, Memorial Day is going to look a lot different.
Maple Lake American Legion Commander Randy Mavencamp said the parade will consist of just the honor guards. They will meet at the St. Timothy School parking lot and walk across Division Street to the veteran’s memorial at the park. After a quick prayer from a local chaplain, Mavencamp will deliver a short speech to the few Legion and VFW members gathered and read off the names of local veterans who have passed away since Memorial Day 2019. Because they can’t invite the public to attend, Mavencamp has shared his speech below. Also below is the list of veterans who have passed away since last year’s ceremony.
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