Throughout the Memorial Day weekend, events will be taking place to honor the men and women who gave their lives while serving in the military.
St. Charles County
The 50th Annual Veterans Memorial Service will begin at 2 p.m. May 29 at St. Charles Memorial Gardens, 3950 West Clay St.
The service will feature participation from St. Charles County veterans organizations that will lead a Parade of Colors, prayers and songs in remembrance of fallen heroes. The ceremony also will feature the After Hours Community Band, lighting of the seven-day candle flame, a rifle salute and taps. More than 500 veterans' names will be read aloud and poppies will be placed on a wreath in their honor.
More than 1,000 people are expected to attend. This event is sponsored by Memorial Services of Missouri, St. Charles Memorial Gardens and Baue Funeral Homes.
New Melle
New Melle VFW Post 5651 will host a traditional Memorial Day ceremony at 8:30 a.m. May 30 at the VFW Hall, 555 Foristell Road.
The Post will have an outdoor wreath-laying and flag-lowering ceremony featuring taps performed by sanctioned military honors buglers Mark and Lisa Blackmore of Wright City, plus military honors by the Post Honor Guard.
A short indoor program is planned with New Melle Mayor Ernest Arteaga as featured speaker. The Rev. Devin Jones, of St. John's United Church of Christ Cappeln, will sing the national anthem. There will be prayers by the Rev. Harry Kishpaugh, of Shiloh United Methodist Church, and a two-bell ceremony honoring deceased veterans. Blue Star Banners will be presented to qualified recipients.
The VFW Ladies Auxiliary, Boy Scout Troop 856 and New Melle police and firefighters will assist in the ceremonies. Other local organizations may participate in the program. For more information, call Ray Welge at 636-828-4888.
A free breakfast will be served after the program.
St. Peters
A Memorial Day Remembrance Ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. May 30 at the Veterans Memorial outside St. Peters City Hall, 1 St. Peters Centre Blvd.
Retired Marine Lt. Col. Ronald Neubauer, a Vietnam veteran, will be the guest speaker. A wreath ceremony will be presented by two members of VFW Post 10838. The ceremony also will feature music by Gregg and Jamie Hitt of Concert Music Ministries. Refreshments will be provided after the ceremony.
The city of St. Peters and St. Peters Veterans Memorial Commission are sponsoring the ceremony.
In case of bad weather, the ceremony will be moved inside City Hall.
Wentzville
The Wentzville American Legion and Auxiliary will host a tribute to all deceased veterans at 10:30 a.m. May 30 at the American Legion Post, 504 Luetkenhaus Blvd.
Post Commander Rick Quistorff Jr. will lead the program. Legionnaire Art Wilson, MO Department Zone Vice Commander and past Missouri Chef de Gare of the 40 & 8, will be the featured speaker. The Holt High School band will perform under the direction of Jim Cunningham. American Legion Post members will conduct a Tolling of the Bell to recognize recently deceased veterans.
Refreshments will be served after the program. A display of more than 230 burial flags will be open for viewing.
O'Fallon
A Memorial Day ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. May 30 at O'Fallon Veterans Memorial Walk, 800 Belleau Creek Road.
Mayor Bill Hennessy will deliver opening remarks. Army Lt. Col. Alan Rohlfing will be the keynote speaker and talk about Missouri's Show-Me Heroes initiative to encourage businesses to hire veterans. Guest speaker Sam Horstmeier, a sophomore at Fort Zumwalt South High School, will read an essay about Memorial Day.
The ceremony is organized by the O'Fallon Veterans Commission, and will include the posting of the colors, the laying of the wreath and patriotic music by the O'Fallon Community Concert Band.
Lake Saint Louis
Lake Saint Louis' annual Memorial Day observance will begin at 11 a.m. May 30 at Veterans Memorial Park, which is next to the Lake Saint Louis Civic Center, 200 Civic Center Drive.
Col. Sean Fagan of Lake Saint Louis, commander of the North Central Region of the Civil Air Patrol, a branch of the U.S. Air Force, will be the featured speaker. As region commander, Fagan is responsible for operations of seven state Wings — Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota.
Mayor Mike Potter will present remarks on behalf of the city, and Alderman Ralph Sidebottom will be emcee. Eight commemorative bricks will be dedicated during the ceremony, bringing the total number of such bricks at the park to 378. For information about ordering a commemorative brick to honor a veteran, call the Lake Saint Louis Parks and Recreation Department at 636-625-1200.
The ceremony will take place rain or shine. Attendees may bring lawn chairs; limited seating will be provided.
St. Charles
A Memorial Day Ceremony will begin at 1 p.m. May 30 at St. Charles Veterans Memorial, located at Bishops Landing near the Lewis and Clark Boathouse on the Missouri River.
Tom Kuypers, of VFW Post 2866, will serve as master of ceremonies. St. Charles County Executive Steve Ehlmann and St. Charles Mayor Sally Faith will give welcome remarks. Music will be provided by the St. Charles Municipal Band.
In the event of inclement weather, the program will be moved to American Legion Post 312, 2500 Raymond Drive.
St. Charles County
The 50th Annual Veterans Memorial Service will begin at 2 p.m. May 29 at St. Charles Memorial Gardens, 3950 West Clay St.
The service will feature participation from St. Charles County veterans organizations that will lead a Parade of Colors, prayers and songs in remembrance of fallen heroes. The ceremony also will feature the After Hours Community Band, lighting of the seven-day candle flame, a rifle salute and taps. More than 500 veterans' names will be read aloud and poppies will be placed on a wreath in their honor.
More than 1,000 people are expected to attend. This event is sponsored by Memorial Services of Missouri, St. Charles Memorial Gardens and Baue Funeral Homes.
New Melle
New Melle VFW Post 5651 will host a traditional Memorial Day ceremony at 8:30 a.m. May 30 at the VFW Hall, 555 Foristell Road.
The Post will have an outdoor wreath-laying and flag-lowering ceremony featuring taps performed by sanctioned military honors buglers Mark and Lisa Blackmore of Wright City, plus military honors by the Post Honor Guard.
A short indoor program is planned with New Melle Mayor Ernest Arteaga as featured speaker. The Rev. Devin Jones, of St. John's United Church of Christ Cappeln, will sing the national anthem. There will be prayers by the Rev. Harry Kishpaugh, of Shiloh United Methodist Church, and a two-bell ceremony honoring deceased veterans. Blue Star Banners will be presented to qualified recipients.
The VFW Ladies Auxiliary, Boy Scout Troop 856 and New Melle police and firefighters will assist in the ceremonies. Other local organizations may participate in the program. For more information, call Ray Welge at 636-828-4888.
A free breakfast will be served after the program.
St. Peters
A Memorial Day Remembrance Ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. May 30 at the Veterans Memorial outside St. Peters City Hall, 1 St. Peters Centre Blvd.
Retired Marine Lt. Col. Ronald Neubauer, a Vietnam veteran, will be the guest speaker. A wreath ceremony will be presented by two members of VFW Post 10838. The ceremony also will feature music by Gregg and Jamie Hitt of Concert Music Ministries. Refreshments will be provided after the ceremony.
The city of St. Peters and St. Peters Veterans Memorial Commission are sponsoring the ceremony.
In case of bad weather, the ceremony will be moved inside City Hall.
Wentzville
The Wentzville American Legion and Auxiliary will host a tribute to all deceased veterans at 10:30 a.m. May 30 at the American Legion Post, 504 Luetkenhaus Blvd.
Post Commander Rick Quistorff Jr. will lead the program. Legionnaire Art Wilson, MO Department Zone Vice Commander and past Missouri Chef de Gare of the 40 & 8, will be the featured speaker. The Holt High School band will perform under the direction of Jim Cunningham. American Legion Post members will conduct a Tolling of the Bell to recognize recently deceased veterans.
Refreshments will be served after the program. A display of more than 230 burial flags will be open for viewing.
O'Fallon
Mayor Bill Hennessy will deliver opening remarks. Army Lt. Col. Alan Rohlfing will be the keynote speaker and talk about Missouri's Show-Me Heroes initiative to encourage businesses to hire veterans. Guest speaker Sam Horstmeier, a sophomore at Fort Zumwalt South High School, will read an essay about Memorial Day.
The ceremony is organized by the O'Fallon Veterans Commission, and will include the posting of the colors, the laying of the wreath and patriotic music by the O'Fallon Community Concert Band.
Lake Saint Louis
Lake Saint Louis' annual Memorial Day observance will begin at 11 a.m. May 30 at Veterans Memorial Park, which is next to the Lake Saint Louis Civic Center, 200 Civic Center Drive.
Col. Sean Fagan of Lake Saint Louis, commander of the North Central Region of the Civil Air Patrol, a branch of the U.S. Air Force, will be the featured speaker. As region commander, Fagan is responsible for operations of seven state Wings — Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota.
Mayor Mike Potter will present remarks on behalf of the city, and Alderman Ralph Sidebottom will be emcee. Eight commemorative bricks will be dedicated during the ceremony, bringing the total number of such bricks at the park to 378. For information about ordering a commemorative brick to honor a veteran, call the Lake Saint Louis Parks and Recreation Department at 636-625-1200.
The ceremony will take place rain or shine. Attendees may bring lawn chairs; limited seating will be provided.
St. Charles
A Memorial Day Ceremony will begin at 1 p.m. May 30 at St. Charles Veterans Memorial, located at Bishops Landing near the Lewis and Clark Boathouse on the Missouri River.
Tom Kuypers, of VFW Post 2866, will serve as master of ceremonies. St. Charles County Executive Steve Ehlmann and St. Charles Mayor Sally Faith will give welcome remarks. Music will be provided by the St. Charles Municipal Band.
In the event of inclement weather, the program will be moved to American Legion Post 312, 2500 Raymond Drive.
