As the nation celebrates Memorial Day on Monday, several upcoming events in Mid-Missouri are planned to honor veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice.
On Sunday, the VFW is hosting a Memorial Day ceremony at 2:30 p.m. under the pavilion at the Enloe Cemetery, located at 55130 Highway C in Russellville.
Russellville veteran Roger Thompson is scheduled to share his story of serving aboard a Tango boat in Vietnam, followed by a dedication of the Cpl. John Allen Campbell Memorial Highway. The highway's namesake was a Russellville Marine killed in Vietnam and buried in Enloe Cemetery.
Beginning at 8 a.m. Memorial Day, VFW Post 1003 is hosting brief memorials at the graves of Wyman Basinger and Roy Sone in Riverview Cemetery, 2600 W. Main St.
The Heroes Outreach Program will host its weekly Veterans' Coffee Talk from 9-10:30 a.m. at 318 S. Oak St. in California. Conversation over free doughnuts and coffee offers veterans a chance to connect and share experiences, thoughts and resources.
The day of remembrance continues with the Jefferson City Veterans Council hosting its Memorial Day program at 10:30 a.m. Monday at the Veterans Memorial on the north side of the Capitol.
The ceremony moved to the Capitol from the National Cemetery two years ago because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Everybody seemed to like it up there, so we just decided to keep it there again this year because we weren't sure whether we'd be able to use the National Cemetery or not," Council President Don Hentges said.
The ceremony's programming is similar to previous years. The Jefferson City Sea Cadets will present the colors, veterans will place wreaths, and Lynn Vineyard and Hentges will direct the Two Bell Ceremony.
Jefferson City High School principal Bob James will provide the keynote address. James, who served five years in the U.S. Army, spoke recently at a ceremony for Dalton Pierson, a 21-year-old corporal in the U.S. Marine Corps who died in a training incident in July 2021. Pierson was the latest name added to the JCHS Wall of Honor.
Shortly before 1 p.m. on Memorial Day, Latham Memorial Family Park in California is unveiling its veterans memorial with more than 3,000 names of Moniteau County veterans.
The Jefferson City Community Band is honoring Memorial Day with a free concert from 1- 2:30 p.m. at First Christian Church, 327 E. Capitol Ave. The band will play a variety of patriotic music and more.
Hentges said there will also be several Memorial Day barbecues throughout the community. He encouraged people to go to events to remember the sacrifices that made them possible.
"Come out and honor the veterans that died so we could have those barbecues," Hentges said. "We're a free country, and we can do those things, but that came at a price. I'm sure that all the veterans that died for us, they would want us to barbecue and have a good time. They gave their lives so we would have that freedom."
National, state and city government offices will be closed Monday for the holiday. City buses will not be operational.