Governor Dayton proclaims Memorial Day; local events planned today

Governor Mark Dayton has proclaimed Monday, May 28 to be observed as an official Minnesota State holiday. Governor Mark Dayton released the following statement regarding the Memorial Day holiday:

“On this Memorial Day, I ask all Minnesotans to take time to remember the courageous men and women, who have served our country, especially those fallen heroes who made the supreme sacrifice. They gave their lives for our freedom and security. We are forever in their debt.

“Let us also remember and comfort their families, who have had to bear the terrible burdens of losing their husbands and wives, their sons and daughters, their mothers and fathers. They, too, have made great sacrifices for our benefit.

“This spring, about 2,700 Minnesotans, members of the famed “Red Bulls,” have returned home from their war zone assignments. They are especially deserving of our gratitude, our support, and our assistance, on this Memorial Day and the days following.”

Locally, here are the events that are taking place in Douglas County:

--Alexandria. Led by Grand Marshal Dennis Carstens, the Memorial Day parade will form at 8th Avenue and Broadway, starting at 10 a.m., and proceed to the Kinkead Cemetery where a ceremony will take place at 11 a.m.

--Brandon. The parade will start at the Brandon School at 10:15 a.m. led by Grand Marshals Bob and Marlys Olson. A program at Legion Park will take place at 10:20 a.m., followed by a program at the school auditorium at 11 a.m. The speaker is Fredrick Parody, a sergeant and U.S. Army recruiter. Lunch will be served at noon by the Brandon Legion Auxiliary – $7.50 for adults, $4 for students aged 6 to 12, and free for children younger than 6 and band members.

--Evansville. The Evansville American Legion Auxiliary Post 188 will serve dinner following a 10:15 a.m. American Legion parade. The program and dinner will be in the Evansville School Auditorium with Jeffery Wencl as the speaker.

--Millerville area. Inspiration Peak Legion Post 527 of Millerville will host Memorial Day honors at six local cemeteries on Monday. Members of the Legion and Auxiliairy will meet at the Legion Hall at 8 a.m. Military honors will take place at the Millerville Cemetery at 8:30 a.m., the Trinity Cemetery at 9 a.m., the Leaf Mountain Cemetery at 9:30 a.m., Urbank Cemetery at 10 a.m., St. James Cemetery at 10:30 a.m. and the Ebenezer Cemetery at 11 a.m. There will be a potluck lunch at the Legion Hall following the cemetery honors. All members and all veterans are encouraged to attend.

--Osakis. The Memorial Day Service is set to begin at 10:45 a.m. at Lakeside Cemetery. Just before the service, at 10:30 a.m., the popular Memorial Day parade will set out from Park Osagi and travel east along Lake Street to the cemetery. Representatives from the Osakis VFW and Auxiliary Honor Guard, Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts and Brownies will be featured in the parade. During the service, Osakis resident and military veteran Don Moore will be the guest speaker and provide the invocation and benediction.

Tags: local news, news, updates, memorial, veteran, soldier