Elgin Arts Central - Special Events Calendar

Memorial Day Programs in Elgin, Monday, May 27, 2013 The Elgin Patriotic Memorial Association, in cooperation with the city of Elgin, will sponsor a variety of programs for Memorial Day. Residents are encouraged to visit our local cemeteries during the Memorial Day period. At Bluff City Cemetery, over 500 flags honoring local veterans line the streets as part of the award winning “Avenue of Flags.” There are also more than 2600 smaller flags flying over veterans graves placed by local volunteers as part of the group’s “Adopt a Cemetery” program. For further information, visit, www.elginmemorialday.org8:45 a.m. - Mount Hope Cemetery - 1001 Villa Street - there will be a Catholic Mass along with a combined color guard, rifle salute, and playing of Taps. 9:15 a.m. – Lakewood Memorial Park - A service to honor those buried at Lakewood Memorial Park located at 30W730 US 20 will be held at the cemetery’s Garden of Honor and include a combined color guard. The observance will conclude with a rifle salute and the playing of Taps.9:45 a.m. – Elgin Veterans Memorial Park - Organized by the Elgin Navy Club, this program is especially designed to pay tribute to veterans interred at sea. The service will also feature the Elgin Choral Union and will conclude with the strewing of flowers into the Fox River a rifle salute, and the playing of Taps. Elgin’s Veterans Memorial Park is located adjacent to the Gail Borden Public Library at 270 N. Grove Ave. 11 a.m. – Bluff City Cemetery - 945 Bluff City Blvd. - An Elgin tradition since 1868, this years' program will pay tribute to 150th anniversary of the Civil War and honor the men who served and lost their lives in this conflict.The service will feature an address by historian Don Pielin and music by the Elgin Choral Union. Also performing with be the Northwest Baptist Academy Marching Eagles band under the direction of Dr. Mike Hall. Local students will continue the long held tradition of reading Lincoln's Gettysburg Address and General John Logan’s Orders which established Memorial Day.The most solemn moment of the morning will be the laying of organizational wreaths at the Grand Army of the Republic memorial – an observance akin to the laying of the wreaths at the Tomb of the Unknowns in Washington D.C. Activities will conclude with the roll call of deceased veterans, a rifle salute, and the playing of Taps.· Following the program, Civil War historian Ken Gough will be on hand to help anyone wanting to learn more about many of the Civil War era graves in the cemetery.· Again this year - A free shuttle bus will pick up riders at the main gate and east gate before and after the service for transportation to and from the ceremony area.