Memorial Day services feature speakers, songs, ceremonies

Several local events on Memorial Day will honor Mid-Missouri veterans.

The Jefferson City Veterans Council will hold its Memorial Day program at 10:30 a.m. Monday at the Jefferson City National Cemetery at 1024 E. McCarty St. Chairs will be provided.

The core ceremony is the ringing of two bells to honor each local veteran who has died since May of last year. One bell is sounded at the calling of each veteran's name. Once the bell is sounded again after the reading of a name, a poppy will be placed on a ceremonial wreath.

Poppy flowers have been a symbol of veterans' sacrifices since World War I.

The program's speaker will be Vincent Rost, commander of the Roscoe Enloe American Legion Post 5.

Rost enlisted in the Navy in 1991 and served until 2011, when he retired at the rank of senior chief gunner's mate.

During his 20-year career, Rost received numerous accolades and awards, including five Navy Achievement Medals and three Navy Commendation Medals. He served in support of combat operations in Bosnia-Herzegovina, was deployed to the Persian Gulf, worked on law enforcement and anti-terrorism efforts, and piloted Landing Craft Air Cushions (LCAC)  hover craft.

He now works in the Jefferson City area as a probation and parole officer and is a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Combat Motorcycle Veterans Association, American Legion Riders, and the Forty and Eight.

The Monticello Singers concert will follow later in the afternoon at 3 p.m. Monday in the Capitol Rotunda.

The concert's theme is "Homeland," a tribute to the fallen heroes of Mid-Missouri. "Homeland" is also the title of one the songs to be performed, arranged by Z. Randall Stroope.

The text of the patriotic British hymn melody, composed by Gustauv Holst, comes from Sir Cecil Spring-Rice, who was the British ambassador to the United States when Woodrow Wilson became president.

"Reuben Phelps, the conductor of Monticello, has put together a program that includes a cappella songs and songs accompanied by Matt Tolksdorff that use to advantage the uniqueness of sound produced under the Capitol's dome," according to a news release.

The "Navy Hymn" will be sung to remember two fallen Jefferson City residents both entombed in their sunken ships to this day. Laughton Smith died May 22, 1968, with 98 shipmates when the nuclear submarine USS Scorpion went down. Clarence Kiselbach died with 1,176 other shipmates on the USS Arizona when it was bombed in the Pearl Harbor attack of Dec. 7, 1941.

The third piece of the concert will be "Legacy," also by Z. Randall Stroope. It was written to commemorate the 150th anniversary of President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation declaring American slaves free. The text is by James Wheldon Johnson, a teacher, poet, songwriter and civil rights activist.

"Phelps notes 'that it is also the Monticello Singers' goal to inspire our audience through song on Memorial Day 2017 to remember our legacy of freedom and to pass it on to the audience, their families, children and grandchildren,'" according to the news release.

The Jefferson City Community Symphonic Band also will perform a concert titled "Letters," where guest presenters will read passages by real and inspired letters from home. The concert is scheduled at 1 p.m. Monday at First Christian Church, 327 E. Capitol Ave.

Mid-Mo Memorial Day services

Salute to Veterans Air show, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Columbia Regional Airport.

Service with a speaker, 2 p.m. Sunday at the High Point Cemetery. In case of rain, the event will be at High Point Baptist Church, 40314 Church Road, California.

Mass, 7:30 a.m. Monday, St. Andrew's Cemetery, Tipton. Members of Edgar Cole American Legion Post 304 will raise the flag, then lower it to half-mast, followed by "Taps."

Service at the grave of John A. Dorn, 10 a.m. Monday, Annunciation Catholic Cemetery, California. A joint event between VFW Post 4345 and California Masonic Lodge 183, the public is invited to attend this ceremony recognizing the service of veterans.

Speaker and salute, 10 a.m. Monday, Veteran's Memorial at Tipton City Park. Veteran and retired attorney Ralph Gaw will speak. There will be a salute of three volleys followed by "Taps."

Jefferson City Veterans Council Memorial Day program, 10:30 a.m. Monday, Jefferson City National Cemetery, 1024 E. McCarty St. Vincent Rost, commander of Roscoe Enloe American Legion Post 5, will speak.

Jefferson City Community Symphonic Band concert, 1 p.m., First Christian Church, 327 E. Capitol Ave. Theme is "Letters."

Monticello Singers concert, 3 p.m., Capitol Rotunda. Theme is "Homeland."