By Brenda Erdahl
Each year on the last Monday of May, Americans celebrate Memorial Day. Not to be confused with Veterans Day, Memorial Day is a day of remembering the men and women who died while serving their country. Veteran’s Day, on the other hand, celebrates the service of all U. S. military veterans.
Communities honor the sacrifices of their fallen soldiers at services, picnics, and events. In Maple Lake, the American Legion Post 131 and VFW Post 7664 hold a morning service in the Community Park. The honor guard, Maple Lake High School band and speakers set up near the Veterans Memorial as they have in years past for a service in remembrance of fallen soldiers.
The program includes songs by the Maple Lake High School Band, prayers, a gun salute and words from a featured speaker.
This year’s featured speaker is Zach Johnson. Johnson served in the United States Marine Corps from 2007 until 2011. He served in Iraq and Afghanistan. It was in Afghanistan that he was hit by an IED which took the lives of one of his fellow Marines.
A list of servicemen and women killed in action will also be read, along with the names of local veterans who have passed away since the 2023 Memorial Day service. The program begins at 10 a.m. on Monday, May 27th.
Memorial Day has a rich history and one that’s worth revisiting as the nation prepares to honor the sacrifices made by its military personnel over the centuries
Maple Lake will hold a Memorial Day Service in the morning on Monday, May 27 at the Community Park.