National Cemetery announces Memorial Day ceremony schedule

Retired United States Army Maj. Gen. Raymond Barrett Jr. is scheduled to deliver the keynote address during a Memorial Day service at 10:30 a.m., Monday, at Fort Scott National Cemetery.

The ceremony is held to honor and pay tribute to all of the American soldiers who have died defending their country during military service. Barrett, a distinguished military graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, was commissioned into the infantry in 1972.

The ceremony is also scheduled to include comments from master of ceremonies and cemetery technician Richard Wheeler, the "Pledge of Allegiance" led by Life Scout Daniel Lyon, an invocation and benediction by the Rev. Kenneth Wood, a musical rendition of the Gettysburg Address by Ralph Carlson and James "Red" Stradley, and the recitation of General Logan Order No. 11 by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 1165 Commander Lee Wright.

General Order No. 11 was an order given in 1868 by General John Logan, the national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, that officially proclaimed the first Memorial Day. Logan led the effort to have Memorial Day observed each year and helped spread recognition of the event.

Members of the American Legion Post No. 25 and Auxiliary will place the honorary wreath, followed by an honor volley presented by members of the V.F.W. Post No. 1165. Local trumpeter Jerry Witt will conclude the program with the playing of "Taps."

The V.F.W. Post No. 1165, 1745 S. National Ave., will serve refreshments for ceremony attendees following the service.

Prior to the service, Wood will lead a prayer in honor of all American war veterans at 9:30 a.m. on the steps of the Bourbon County Courthouse, 210 S. National Ave.

The ceremony, arranged under the auspices of the American Legion Post No. 25, the V.F.W. Post No. 1165, the Disabled American Veterans, and the Combat Infantrymen's Association, takes place each year to honor and remember American soldiers who have died in conflicts throughout the world since 1775. Memorial Day has been observed on the last Monday in May since 1971.