The Great Bend American Legion Argonne Post No. 180 is organizing the Great Bend Memorial Day service this year. It is set for 10 a.m. Monday at the Veterans Circle, Great Bend Municipal Cemetery
The schedule for the observance is as follows:
• Call to order (It’s a Grand Old Flag)
• Entrance of the American Legion Riders Chapter 180, Great Bend
• Master of Ceremonies – Roy Titsworth
• Invocation – Rev. William Johnson
Presentation of memorials and addresses
• American Legion Post 180 – Bob Jarmer (commander)
• American Legion Auxiliary Post 180 – Norma Titsworth (president)
• Sons of the American Legion Squad 180 – Gary Gable (commander)
• American Legion Riders Chapter 180 – Chris Krueger (director)
• Veterans of foreign Wars Post 3111 – Dan Zimmerschied (junior vice-president)
• Veterans of foreign Wars Auxiliary Post 3111 – Jacque Fowler
• Disabled American Veterans Chapter 27 – Richard Callahan (commander)
• Ladies of the Grand Army of the Republic – Girl Scout Troop 20210 - Chloe Gibson
• Spanish American War (In Memory of) – Boy Scout Troop 157
• World War I Barracks 2109 (In Memory of) – Boy Scout Troop 149
• World War I Barracks Auxiliary 2109 – Girl Scout Troop 20210 - Sage Schmidt
• Boy Scouts of America – Boy Scout Troop 149
• Girl Scouts of America – Girl Scout Troop 20210 - Taylor Dougherty
• Memorial Address – Buck Causey
• Benedictions – Rev. William Johnson
• Salute to the Deceased, Taps – Kevin Lockwood
• Adjourn to the Arkansas River Bridge to honor those who died at sea.
Great Bend Military Moms has its own way of observing Memorial Day.
The local group sends care packages to soldiers deployed in the war zones around the world. It continues to seek addresses of military personnel who could use a little piece of home in hostile settings.
“We’re preparing to ship out another bunch of boxes,” said Leslie Barrett, Military Moms organizer. No date has been set she wants to get as many names as she can.
“The boxes have a little bit of everything,” Barrett said. “There is enough so they can share with their buddies.”
Each soldier will receive at least two boxes loaded with food, snacks, games, toys, DVDs, CDs, personal care items, and lots of love and appreciation from home.
The project was started 2003, and they have now shipped over 4,300. They send about 150 packages at one time with postage costing $50 each.
“Community support has made it all possible, and I just can’t find the words to express how thankful we are to everyone who continues to make this possible,” Barrett said. “But I had to give up writing thank you notes a long time ago – I just could not keep up.”
All contributors are added to a letter included in each box, which reads, “We Appreciate you! We want to thank you for your commitment to the United States of America. There are no words to express our appreciation for the dedication and sacrifices you make every day, to protect the very freedoms we enjoy as American citizens. These gifts were made possible by the following people and organizations from Great Bend and surrounding central Kansas communities. We thank YOU for everything you do for all of us!”
For more information, to make a donation, or to give a military address for future shipments, please contact Barrett at 620-792-2838.
