Published: May 22, 2009 01:24 am      

Memorial Day services

Services to honor those who died in service to our country have been planned at the following locations:
• Effingham will hold its annual Memorial Day dedications Monday, May 25, at 9 a.m. at St. Anthony Cemetery, at 10:30 a.m. at Oakridge Cemetery and immediately following at Woodlawn Cemetery. World War II veteran Bill Dasenbrock will serve as the guest speaker at Oakridge and Woodlawn cemeteries.
• Blue Point Baptist Church, rural Effingham, 2 p.m. Sunday, May 24. The observance will be held rain or shine.
• Island Creek Cemetery, located south and west of Jewett, 2 p.m. Sunday, May 24. The Rev. Ed Davis of Cumberland United Methodist Parish will speak. Public is welcome to attend.
• Mason Civic Center will have its annual Memorial Day celebration Sunday, May 24. Dinner will be served at the center from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Cost is $6 for adults and $4 for children 12 and under. Edgewood American Legion Color Guard will hold a service in Mason Cemetery at 1 p.m.
• Wilbur Braughton American Legion Post 611 will conduct memorial services at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, May 24, in Stewardson Cemetery. The ceremony will honor deceased veterans of all wars and the Rev. Richard Bremer of Trinity Lutheran Church, Stewardson, will speak.
• Brownstown will celebrate Memorial Day at 10 a.m. Monday, May 25, in City Park. Judge Gene Schwarm will be guest speaker, Kelsey Shelton will present her Voice of Democracy speech and First Baptist Church choir will provide music.
• Teutopolis will dedicate its new Veterans Memorial at 1 p.m. Sunday, May 24. American Legion 5th Division Commander Roy Weber will be the guest speaker.
• St. Elmo will hold a Memorial Day service at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 24, at its Veterans Memorial next to the Phillips Building along U.S. Route 40.
• Dieterich will commemorate Memorial Day at 10 a.m. Monday, May 25, at Dieterich Community Veterans Memorial. In case of inclement weather, the program will be held in the Dieterich Park Pavilion or Dieterich High School gymnasium. Guest speakers include Dr. Michelle Braddy, physician at Dieterich Medical Center, and her husband, U.S. Navy veteran Bryce Braddy. Master of Ceremony is second-grade teacher Jane Westjohn.
• Altamont will hold its annual Memorial Day Parade at 10 a.m. Monday, May 25. The parade will start at Altamont High School parking lot, travel down Division Street to Main Street and then head north to Union Cemetery. Veterans, churches, organizations and anyone who wants to honor veterans are invited to march in the parade. Past VFW Commander and Korean War veteran Virgil Voelker will serve as parade marshal.

Dr. Melanie Waller of St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital, Effingham, a retired U.S. Navy captain and former consultant to the White House Medical Department, will address Altamont’s Memorial Day gathering following the parade. A light lunch will be served at the VFW on U.S. 40 following the ceremony.