Polk marks Memorial Day this weekend

by Barbara Tilly

Polk County will join the nation this weekend in observing Memorial Day, a day of remembrance for those who have died in service to the nation.

Flags have already been placed on veterans’ graves at Saluda City Cemetery and Friendship Cemetery in Saluda.

On Saturday, May 28, at 5:30 p.m. the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 9116, and its auxiliary will place flags on all veterans’ graves at Polk Memorial Gardens cemetery in Columbus. Everyone is welcome to help.

VFW Post 9116 and its auxiliary will also hold a Memorial Day service on Monday, May 30 at 11 a.m. in the Polk Memorial Gardens cemetery in Columbus.

The speaker this year will be Phillip Anderson, a retired Navy chaplain. Everyone is welcome.

The fourth annual Singing for the Soldiers will be held Monday evening from 5-9 p.m. in Veteran’s Park in Columbus. The park is located near the Polk County courthouse, at the intersection of Ward and Gibson streets.

The event will combine gospel music, food and a patriotic ceremony to collect toiletries, batteries, snacks and other items to send to troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Food sales will kick off at 5 p.m. and will include hot dogs and sides, roasted corn and dessert.

A special ceremony featuring the Polk County Honor Guard will be held at 6 p.m. J.J.Waddell will perform the national anthem to honor the Polk County military members who gave their lives.

The evening concert will follow the ceremony. It will feature the following groups:

• Gospel Music Hall of Fame member Archie Watkins of Whittier, N.C., a long-time tenor singer with the Inspirations

• The Green River Boys of Saluda

• Southern Sounds QT of Rutherford County

Those attending the event are asked to bring such items as personal size snacks, toiletries, CDs, DVDs, white socks, batteries, drink mixes, etc. to send to chaplains in Iraq and Afghanistan to be distributed to troops.

If you are unable to attend the event, items may be dropped off at WJFJ Radio or on Court Street in Columbus. You can also call organizer James Metcalf at 828-894-5858.