SPRINGFIELD – Towns across Illinois will be commemorating and saluting veterans this weekend for Memorial Day.
The holiday, which lands on Monday, May 25, also brings about events like car shows and live music, as it is the unofficial start to summer.
Here are a few things going on in the Springfield area for Memorial Day.
Camp Butler commemoration
A Memorial Day event will commemorate the service and sacrifice of veterans who are interred and memorialized at Camp Butler National Cemetery at 5063 Camp Butler Road.
The event will take place on Monday, beginning with a musical prelude at 1:30 p.m. and a ceremony at 2 p.m.
Keynote speakers include Springfield Mayor Misty Buscher Mayor and Brad Marcy, who is a U.S. Army veteran, educator, and entrepreneur out of Bloomington.
Music will be played by the Springfield Municipal Band and the Land of Lincoln Chorus. The Inter-Veterans Burial Detail of Sangamon County will provide military honors.
Oak Ridge Cemetery
The Lincoln Tomb State Historic Site will be closed on Monday, May 25, in observance of Memorial Day. Oak Ridge Cemetery will remain open. Visitors are welcome to explore the grounds around the Tomb, but the interior of the Tomb will not be accessible.
Soup provided at Springfield American legion
American Legion Post 32 will be providing free soup at 1120 Sangamon Ave., from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Monday.
American Legion ceremony in Lincoln
American Legion Post 263 will host a ceremony at 1740 Fifth St. in Lincoln at 10 a.m. on Monday.
Robert Tyler PHD, will be a speaker. Tyler is a retired colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps. Tyler has served as the Military Officers Association of America’s Illinois Council of Chapters president since 2017. Tyler also chairs the Illinois Veterans’ Advisory Council and is on the veterans advisory group for two U.S. lawmakers, among other accolades.
There will be a 21 gun salute and a singing of the star spangled banner. After the service; ham, beans, corn bread will be served.
Chatham ceremony
Chatham American Legion Post 759 and Chatham Auburn VFW will have a Joint Color Guard along with local Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts at The Veterans Memorial in the Veterans Memorial Park “On the Square” from 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on Monday.
There will be a Firing Detail and playing of Taps. Organizers encourage people to drive around the Square and honk in support of the veterans.
The keynote speaker will be Les Morgan, who is a retired Master Sergeant in both the U.S. Airforce and the Illinois Air National Guard.
Chatham Village President Dave Kimsey will lead the pledge of allegiance.
The Chatham Fire Department will display their Big Flag on Market Street 10 to 10:30 a.m., weather permitting.
In case of inclement weather, Memorial Day Services will be held under the Pavilion or at the Chatham Auburn VFW Post 4763 at 214 W. Chestnut St.
On Saturday morning, members of the Chatham American Legion, Chatham Auburn VFW and local Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts will be placing flags on all of the graves at the Chatham cemeteries. They will meet at the Chatham Auburn VFW Post 4763 at 8 a.m.
Memorial ceremony in Atlanta, and other events
Several events are scheduled over Memorial Day weekend in Atlanta.
Memorial Day program
The town of Atlanta will hold its Memorial Day program, which takes place on the library’s front lawn on Monday at 10:30 a.m. Poppies will be available for sale.
The keynote speaker is James P. Allen, who is a retired colonel of the U.S. Army. Allen is now the technical director for operational science and engineering of the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center’s Construction Engineering Research Laboratory in Champaign. Engineering Research Laboratory in Champaign, IL. He is responsible for technical leadership of programs in Combat Engineering, Warfighter & Emergency Support, and Training Lands & Ranges where he leads a team of around 150 federal and contracted staff.
Car show, live music
Midway 154 and the American Giants Museum will be co-hosting a car show that will take place at Southwest Arch Street on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., where cars will be awarded on categories. A cruise-in portion will take place behind Midway 154’s building at 104 SW Arch St., Atlanta.
A boogie band will be playing in Xenia Park from noon to 3 p.m. A vendor market will be set up in the park from 11 to 4 p.m.
American Giants Museum to add two giants
The American Giants Museum will host two giant installations on Sunday. The giants are being refurbished and are expected to arrive in Atlanta at 10 a.m.
The museum will put up a spaceman replica from 1964 called Astro Oil. The museum is also setting up the Bemidji Brave Indian, which came from Minnesota.
Atlanta Public Museum Memorial Project
The first phase of a memorial brick project, organized by the Atlanta Public Museum, was initially scheduled to be installed in front of the clock tower in front of the library prior to Memorial Day, but production delays mean the installation will take place in June.
The project originally sought to memorialize veterans and also dedicate bricks to alumni of Atlanta High School that closed in 1972, but the project has grown to be more inclusive for people who lived in Atlanta who wish to purchase a brick.
The first phase of the bricks are expected to be installed in coming weeks and more phases will follow. The library is working on a grant that could buy bricks for people who do not have surviving family or for people who may not be able to afford one.
Swimming pool, splash pads open in Springfield
Nelson Center Pool will be open for the season starting May 23. It will open at 11 a.m. daily, but its closing hours vary.
Three splash pads will open on May 23, including a brand new one. The new splash pad is located at Gietl Park. The other splash pads in Springfield are located at Comer Cox Park and Southwind Park. The splash pads will be open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at no cost.
Tom Ackerman covers breaking news and trending news along with general news for the Springfield State Journal-Register. He can be reached at tackerman@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Here are Memorial Day events happening in the Springfield area
Reporting by Tom Ackerman, Springfield State Journal-Register / State Journal-Register
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