Memorial Day 2002 will be observed with special programs at area cemeteries, several parades, prayer services, speeches, and family reunions and remembrances of deceased relatives and friends in Albert Lea and nearby communities.

This is a partial listing of the observances on Monday.

Albert Lea:

Activities start at 7 a.m. at Lakewood Cemetery with graveside rites honoring Freemond Madson, namesake of Albert Lea’s Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 447. This salute will be immediately followed with graveside rites for Leo Carey, namesake of American Legion Post 56, at St. Theodore’s Cemetery. A special ceremony for veterans buried in Hillcrest Cemetery will be held about 7:45 a.m.

A flag-raising ceremony and memorial service for those buried at sea will be held at 9 a.m. in Fountain Lake Park. A wreath will be cast into the water from the shore. Another wreath will be dropped into the lake from an aircraft, weather permitting. A volley fire by the American Legion color guard will be made and taps will be played.

The annual Memorial Day parade starts at Central Park at 10 a.m. The route is north on St. Mary Avenue to Fountain Street, east to Broadway Avenue, south on Broadway to Clark Street, then west on Clark to Graceland Cemetery where the program will start at I I a.m. Participating in the parade and in the program will be the Albert Lea High School Band.

Stu Evenson has been selected to be the parade marshal.

The American Legion Careyaires men’s vocal group will provide patriotic music for the Graceland Cemetery program. Captain Jamie Pennington of the Albert Lea Salvation Army will be the main speaker. Duane Hatleli will serve as the chaplain for the program..

This year’s program is under the direction of Freemond Madson Post 447 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Eldon Schmitt of Twin Lakes is the post commander.

Freeborn:

Memorial Day observances at the Trenton Cemetery, near Matawan, and at the community cemetery north of Freeborn will be conducted by members of Gilmore-Stensrud Post 552, American Legion. A program will be held in the school gymnasium at 11 a.m. Dinner is at the Freeborn Congregational United Church of Christ at 11:30 a.m.

Geneva:

Memorial Day services at the Geneva Community Cemetery will start at 10 a.m. The speaker will be The Rev. Robert Mumm.. Music will be furnished by the New Richland-Hartland/Ellendale-Geneva Band. In case of bad weather, the program will be held in the Geneva Community Center.

Wells:

The Memorial Day observance starts with a parade, from the Baker’s Choice Bakery location west to Rosehill Cemetery starting at 9:30 a.m. Taking part in the parade and program at the cemetery, which starts at 10 a.m., will be the USC High School Band. The speaker at the program will be The Rev. James E. Dandelet.

Coffee and donuts will be served at the Wells VFW Club after the program. Also, a noon luncheon will be held at the American Legion Club.

In case of inclement weather, the program will be held at the high school auditorium.

Kiester-Walters:

Memorial Day observances’ start with visits to area cemeteries by members of the Kiester American Legion Post 454.

These visits include: Mansfield Township at 8:30 a.m.; Mansfield Lutheran, 8:35 a.m.; Walters, 8:45 a.m.; Walters (Country), 9:15 a.m.; Rice Lake, 9:25 a.m.; Kiester North (Fairview), 9:40 a.m.; and Kiester East (Our Savior’s) at 9:55 a.m.

The program will be held in the school auditorium at 11 a.m. with Roger Godfrey as the main speaker. A lunch will follow at the Legion Club.

Myrtle:

Memorial Day ceremonies will be held at the Bohemian National ‘Cemetery north of Myrtle on County Road 30 at 11 am. The Rev. Mark Wendland of Glenville will be the speaker. A lunch will follow at the nearby (Z.C.B.J.) Brick Hall.

The Myrtle Museum will be open on Monday, May 27, from 1-3 p.m. Coffee will be served in the nearby fire hall.

Clarks Grove:

There will be Memorial Day services at the cemetery at 9 a.m..

Emmons:

Members of American Legion Post 317, Emmons, will be making their traditional visits to seven nearby cemeteries on Monday morning. The group will assemble at the Legion clubrooms in Emmons at 8:30 a.m. and leave for the cemeteries at 8:45 a.m. The schedule is: Lime Creek Synod, 9 a.m.; Lime Creek, 9:15 a.m.; Oak Lawn at Emmons, 9:30 a.m.; Silver Lake (Iowa), 9:50 a.m.; St. James Catholic, 10:45 a.m.; Brush Hill, I I a.m.; and Bear Lake at 11:15 a.m.

The Legion Auxiliary will hold a Potluck lunch at the post in Emmons following these visits for the Legionnaires and their families.

Hartland:

The Lundberg-Lee Post 266 of the American Legion will sponsor the Memorial Day observances in Hartland to be held on the lawn of the Cross of Glory Lutheran Church starting at 9 a.m., weather permitting. A parade on Broadway led by the New Richland-Hartland/Ellendale-Geneva Middle School Band will precede the program. Francis Koziolek is scheduled to be the main speaker.

Following the program, the Altar Guild of Cross of Glory Lutheran Church will serve lunch in the church parlors.

Itasca:

The Itasca Historical Cemetery, located northwest of Albert Lea on County Road 101, will be open to the public during the Memorial Day weekend. Members of the cemetery association extend an invitation to everyone to visit this historic site.

Oakland Lutheran:

A service will be held at noon on Monday at the Oakland Lutheran Cemetery, 22042 850th Ave., Albert Lea. An honor guard from the Austin veterans’ organizations will participate. Coffee at 9 a.m. and a lunch at 12:30 p.m., sponsored by the cemetery association, will be held at the church.

New Richland:

Memorial Day will be observed in the New Richland area with visits to the following cemeteries: Calvary, St. Peter’s, St. Olaf, LeSueur, Vista Lutheran and Vista Covenant. The parade from the New Richland City Hall to Central Park will start at 10:45 a.m., followed by the program at the park at I I a.m. Tom Hagen, Waseca mayor and New Richland’s city attorney, will be the main speaker.

In case of rain, the program will be held in the American Legion Hall.

Bricelyn:

The Memorial Day program in Bricelyn will be held in the school auditorium starting at 9:30 a.m. Brent Legred will be the speaker. Coffee and cake will be served at the Legion Club following the program.

Bath:

A Memorial Day remembrance will be held at St. Aiden’s Catholic Cemetery at 9:15 a.m. Monday.

Alden:

The firing squad from American Legion Post 404 will salute the deceased at Concordia-Pickerel Lake Cemetery at 8:30 a.m., Shady Oaks Cemetery at 8:45 a.m, Conger Cemetery at 9 a.m., followed by the Carlston Cemetery.

The Memorial Day parade will form on the east side of the school building at 10 a.m. and proceed to the Alden Cemetery for the annual observance and program featuring The Rev. Fayetta Maki. The Alden-Conger High School Band will participate in the parade and program. A dinner will be held from 11:30 a.m. to I p.m. at the Alden-Conger School. In case of adverse weather, the program will be held in the Alden-Conger School building.

Gordonsville:

A program will be held at the State Line Cemetery, southeast of Gordonsville at 9:30 a.m.

Glenville:

Observances in Glenville will start at 9:30 a.m. with a parade from the American Legion Post 264 clubrooms to Greenwood Cemetery. The speaker will be The Rev. Mark Wendland, pastor of First Lutheran Church in Glenville. Music will be by the Glenville-Emmons High School Band.

The Greenwood Club of the Glenville Cemetery will host a noon lunch at the Glenville Community Hall. Serving will start at I I a.m. Lunch tickets are $4 for adults and $1 for children under 10.

The public is invited.

Ellendale:

Memorial Day observances will be at the Ellendale Cemetery at I I;15 a.m. The speaker will be The Rev. Robert Mumm from the Assembly of God Church. Music will be furnished by the New Richland-Hartland/Ellendale-Geneva

Band. In case of bad weather, the program will be held in the Ellendale Community Center.

Lake Mills:

Memorial Day will be observed in Lake Mills, Iowa, with the traditional parade which forms up on the northside of Manufacturers Bank and Trust and proceeds down Lake Street to the school building.

The program at the Lake Mills Community. School Auditorium starts at 10 a.m. with Kermit Singelstad as the speaker.

Northwood:

Northwood’s annual Memorial Day will be held 10:30 a.m. Monday at the Worth County Veterans Memorial in Sunset Rest Cemetery, The Rev. Robert Lubbert, pastor of the Northwood Baptist Church, will be the speaker. Several selections will be played by the Northwood-Kensett Junior-Senior High School Band.

A potluck lunch will be held at “Our Buddies” VFW Post 6779, U.S. Highway 65 N., following the program.