On Saturday, May 26 members of Polk County Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9116 and the Ladies Auxiliary plan to place flags on the graves of more than 375 veterans, noting the approaching Memorial Day and events to be held in honor of the holiday.
Post Commander H. Scott Camp said, “Anyone wishing to help would be welcome. If you know of a veterans’ grave that is not marked, please come by and put a flag on it.”
Camp said the post and auxiliary began placing flags on graves in 1983 and yet it has only rained on the event three times.
“When we moved here there was not a VFW at all in Polk County. We just couldn’t believe that so we started one,” said Camp’s wife, Ann. “We just felt it was too important to honor our veterans.”
Ann said when Post 9116 began they didn’t spend money on a building, instead choosing to erect a flag pole at Polk Memorial Gardens and purchasing flags for the graves of each veteran.
Post and auxiliary members also take care of veterans widows, host the Voice of Democracy essay contest and do programs at local schools to encourage patriotism in youth. The post also hosts poppy sales each year to benefit these programs.
Columbus
A Memorial Day service will be held at Polk Memorial Gardens Monday, May 28 at 11 a.m.
The guest speaker this year will be Charles M. McKeller. The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9116 and the Ladies Auxiliary will put on the program with assistance from the Polk County Honor Guard. The community is welcome.
Saluda
Dr. Jerry Russell will hold a Memorial Day program to salute and honor Saluda’s veterans and military men and women. The program will be held at the Memorial Monument on Greenville Street on May 28, 2012 at 11 a.m.
Singing for the Soldiers
The fifth annual Memorial Day Singing for the Soldiers will be held Monday, May 28 at 5 p.m. at the Columbus Veterans Park.
The event collects items for troops serving in Afghanistan or in military hospitals.
The event will be kicked off by a 21-gun salute at 6 p.m. by the Polk County Honor Guard in honor of the men and women from Polk County who gave their lives for their country. The national anthem will be performed by JJ Wadell.