Legion planning another memorable Memorial Day |
April 19, 2011 |
On
Monday, May 30, Boundary County American Legion
Post 55 will continue a tradition that goes back
for decades, that of recognizing those of our
neighbors who've answered the call of duty from
a nation in need. At 10 a.m., a full parade will wend it's way through downtown Bonners Ferry, to be followed a short time later by our Memorial Day observance at Grandview Cemetery, where members of Legion Post 55, with help from all volunteers who'd like to help, will mark the many graves in that sacred place of veterans of this nation's armed forces with American flags beginning at 5 p.m. Friday, May 27. You don't need an invitation or application to help ... just show up. "This is a very special event," said Post 55 chaplain and Vietnam veteran Mike Ashby, "one in which the Legion is very glad to share with our community. If anyone would like to take part in the flag placement, just come to Grandview Cemetery at 5 p.m. Friday. This is a very opportune time to share with your youth the part that our veterans have played in keeping liberty in our country." Those participating in the parade are asked to arrive at the Boundary County Fairgrounds no later than 9:30 a.m. Monday, though earlier is better. "All participants in the parade," Ashby wrote, "are asked to be at the Fairgrounds at 0930 to facilitate the staging of the parade," which is military-speak for be here on time so you can hurry up and wait in order that we might jump off with military precision. As always, our observance will be attended by those of our neighboring armed forces units in Canada, with whom we've long shared battle lines as allies, and all veterans of both nation's military services are invited to attend, whether as a group or as individuals. The featured speaker at the observance this year will be Bonners Ferry resident Army Sergeant First Class Lawrence Jefferson, a former paratrooper with the Army's elite 82nd Airborne Division, recipient of the Purple Heart for wounds sustained in battle. If anyone has questions regarding either the Bonners Ferry Memorial Day Parade or the observance ceremony, call Ashby at (208) 267-5135 or Legion Post 55 commander Ozzy Osborn at (208) 267-2666. |