Several ceremonies will be held in the area this Memorial Day weekend to honor area veterans who have served this nation. The following is a description of some of the local ceremonies.
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Polk Memorial Gardens
The Polk County memorial VFW Post #9116 and ladies auxiliary (Columbus post) will hold a Memorial Day Service at 11 a.m. on Monday, May 31, at the Polk Memorial Gardens (cemetery) on Highway 108 in Columbus.
Major Frank Ortiz will be the speaker.
VFW organizers remind citizens that it was the American soldier, sailor, Maine and airman who fought and died to keep the United States and the rest of the world free. They say “Freedom isnt free!”
More than 104,366 American soldiers are buried in marked cemeteries on foreign soil.
Please remember, VFW says, and thank those who have paid the ultimate price so that we could be free.
The public is invited.
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Flags on veterans graves
Polk County memorial VFW Post #9116 & Ladies Auxiliary (Columbus Post) will place U.S. Flags on the veterans graves at Polk Memorial Gardens (cemetery) on Highway 108 in Columbus at 5 p.m. on Saturday, May 29.
If anyone knows of a grave not marked, please contact Scott Camp at 894-3197 or Joyce Preston at 859-5286.
Organizers say they do accidentally miss graves from time to time, so please do not be offended.
Anyone that can help place these flags is asked to kindly join in and help.
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Mountain Page Baptist
A special Memorial Service Raising of Flag ceremony will beheld at Mountain Page Baptist Church on Sunday, May 30.
The worship service will begin at 11 a.m., and the flag rising will take place at noon.
Lunch will be served in the fellowship building at 12:30 p.m. Meat and drinks will be supplied. Bring a covered dish.
All veterans and anyone else in the community are welcome to the service and the dedication of a new flag pole.
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Western Carolina
A Memorial Day Ceremony will be held at 10 a.m. on Monday, May 31, at the Western Carolina State Veterans Cemetery. The cemetery is located at 962 Old U.S. Highway 70 West (beside the Black Mountain Neuro-Medical Treatment Center) in Black Mountain.
The ceremony is arranged by the Buncombe County Veterans Council, the Charles George VA Medical Center and the state of North Carolina. Everyone is invited to attend.