Memorial Day ceremonies will take place at City Cemetery

LAUREL — Laurel area veterans are hoping the Laurel City Cemetery will provide enough space so area residents can spread out to observe Memorial Day.

Memorial Day services will be held May 25, 11 a.m. at the Laurel Cemetery.

Master of ceremonies this year will be Shane Kinkaid.

The singing of the National Anthem and God Bless America will be sung by all in attendance.

Pastor Jim Splitt, United Presbyterian Church will have the prayer.

Placing of the flowers in memory of the unknown soldier will be by the American Legion and VFW Auxiliary.

Roll call of Deceased Veterans will be recited by Jim Lipp.

Following the reading a salute to the Fallen Comrades with the playing of taps.

Several area communities, including Hartington and Concord have decided to cancel Memorial Day celebrations this year.

Due to recent precautions relating to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Concord Cemetery Association decided not to host a Memorial Day program.

This year, an amateur video will be created to include aspects of the Concord Memorial Day Program, such as the Pledge of Allegiance, Veterans Roster, prayers, sermon, hymns, Taps, and gun salute.

This will not be a live feed, but a previously recorded video to be placed on YouTube.

Once the video has been posted, the web link will be shared.

Also, there has been discussion on allowing the public to gather at the time that the Vets Post does their gun salute and Taps, while observing social distancing.

This has yet to be decided, however, organizers say.