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05-24-09
Mt. Vernon
Mount Vernon celebrates Memorial Day with annual wreath
laying ceremony, parade and closing ceremony
Memorial
Day, May 25, is a day of remembrance for those who have died
serving our country. And in Mount Vernon, during a beautiful
sunny day, a wreath laying ceremony attracted nearly 200
citizens to City Hall Plaza for the annual ceremony that is
jointly sponsored by the City of Mount Vernon Veterans
Service Agency and the Central Committee for Veteran's
Affairs. Afterwards, officials and the public walked a few
blocks and participated in the annual Memorial Day parade
and Memorial Day Ceremony at Hartley Park.
Once again, highly decorated Viet Nam veteran, Will
DuBose, Director of Veterans Affairs, acted as the Master of
Ceremonies during the ceremony.
The annual wreath laying ceremony requires a lot of
planning and preparation, and assisting DuBose in making the
event possible every year is Melvin Garrett, past Chairman,
Central Committee for Veterans Affairs. Garrett read the
Final Roll Call during the ceremony.
The
Final Roll Call
honors all those soldiers from Mount Vernon, and from
all branches of the American Armed Forces, that have given
their lives in defense of freedom.
DuBose commenced the brief program by introducing the mayor
of Mount Vernon, Clinton I. Young. "Here in Mount Vernon
today is not just a day off from work. This is a day of
remembrance and appreciation. A day in which we take time
out to honor those men and women who served in our armed
services, and who paid the ultimate sacrifice for the
freedom that we enjoy," said Mayor Young.
This year's Grand Marshal was John Fava, Chairman,
Central Committee for Veterans Affairs.
Providing the Invocation was Jerry Frusciante,
Chaplain, Central Committee for Veterans Affairs.
The Benediction was also provided by Jerry Frusciante
and was followed by a Firing Squad and Taps.
Wreaths were laid at the following memorials outside
City Hall:
The
parade commenced with a police escort starting
at East Prospect Avenue and ended at the Gazebo
in Hartley Park, where the annual Memorial
Day Ceremony took place.
The keynote speaker at the Memorial Day ceremony was Lieutenant Colonel Glenda A. Shearn, US Army, 27th Brigade Combat Team, Combined
Joint Task Force Phoenix VII, Physician Assistant
and Deputy Task Force Surgeon, who recently returned
from Afghanistan.
Participants in the parade consisted of city, state
and national representatives, veteran's groups,
fraternal and civic organizations, members of the
Mount Vernon Board of Education Trustees, members of
the Boys and Girls Club of Mount Vernon, Mount
Vernon schools students, JROTC, bands and
members of the city's police and fire
departments.
Photo Gallery
Veterans pictured
during wreath ceremony
A color guard
consisting of veterans
Melvin Garrett
Mayor Clinton I
Young
Families of
fallen heroes being recognized
City officials
laying a wreath by the City of Mt. Vernon flag
pole. In uniform is
Lieutenant Colonel Glenda A. Shearn,
US Army.
A partial view of
the many participants
Jerry Frusciante, Chaplain, Central Committee
for Veterans Affairs
Firing Squad
Taps being played
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