By Lauren Zeugner
InkFreeNews

WARSAW – The following communities are preparing for Memorial Day weekend celebrations in Kosciusko County.

Bourbon – The American Legion Post will participate in a ceremony at noon Sunday, May 29, at Etna Green Cemetery with a three round volley.

Etna Green – A service will be held at noon Sunday, May 29, at East Cemetery.

Leesburg – The Leesburg Community will be having a Memorial Day parade and service at 10:30 a.m. Monday, May 30. There will be a flag raising by the Boy Scouts before the parade at the town hall.

The parade will proceed from the town hall south on Pearl Street then west on Prairie Street to Leesburg Cemetery. The memorial service will follow the parade.

All veterans wishing to ride in the parade should be at town hall by 10:15 a.m. and all other participants should be in place by 10:15 a.m.

In case of rain, the memorial service will be held inside the Leesburg Lions Building at 10:30 a.m.

Mentone – The Lawrence D. Bell Aircraft Museum and the Mentone Chamber of Commerce will host their annual Memorial Day program at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 29, at the Mentone Cemetery. This event is in remembrance of local community veterans who served their country. A reception will take place immediately following the program at the museum, 210 S. Oak St. In case of rain, the program will take place in the Baptist Church next door to the museum.

Milford – The town will host its annual Memorial Day Parade on Monday, May 30. Line up will begin at 9 a.m. with the parade stepping off at 10 a.m. sharp. This year, organizers hope to have 200 entries. A ceremony will be held afterward in Milford Cemetery.

Nappanee – The town will host  parade at 10:30 a.m. Monday, May 30, with a Memorial Day ceremony following immediately after. The parade will step off at Nappanee Elementary School, travel down Centennial Street to SR 19, continue south down SR 19 to Lincoln Street where it will end at city hall. A Memorial Day Ceremony will take place at approximately 11 a.m. on the south lawn of Nappanee City Hall.

New Paris – The annual New Paris Community Memorial Day parade and ceremony will be held Sunday, May 29. The event is hosted by the New Paris Chamber of Commerce and New Paris Boy Scouts Troop 12. The parade will step off at 2 p.m. from Main and Market Streets and make its way to the New Paris/Jackson Township Cemetery. The ceremony will begin at approximately 2:15 p.m. in the cemetery with keynote speaker Steven Clark, a US Army veteran and Elkhart County councilman.

North Webster – The North Webster Community Center will host a Run for a Veteran 5K run/walk Saturday, May 28. Registration is at runsignup.com. Early registration is $25, registration the day of the race will be $30. The North Webster American Legion Post No. 253 will provide an honor guard at 8 a.m. prior to the start of the race.

There will table to raise money for the veterans. Goshen Health will also be on site offering a variety of health screenings.

The American Legion honor guard will then hold a Memorial Day Ceremony at 11 a.m. at Jellystone Campsite. Taps Across Lake Webster, a Memorial Day Service sponsored by Dixie Sternwheeler Inc. and Post 253, will be held at 6:15 p.m. Sunday, May 29. The legion is providing an honor guard while cascading trumpets will be featured around the lake.

Memorial Day will start with remembrance ceremonies at Thorn Cemetery, 9 a.m.; Salem Cemetery, 9:30 a.m.; Mock Cemetery, 10 a.m.; and Legion Post No. 253, 10:30 a.m.

A parade will be held at 10:45 a.m. Monday, May 30, with a ceremony in North Webster Cemetery. A flag raising will be held at noon at the post.

Pierceton – The town will host a parade at 11 a.m. and will start at the fire station and travel to Brower Park, were a ceremony will take place. The American Legion Post will host a carry in dinner at noon for veterans.

Silver Lake – A veterans ceremony will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 28, in Lakeview Cemetery, Silver Lake, sponsored by the Silver Lake Lions Club.

Syracuse – Syracuse will have a Memorial Day Parade at 1:30 p.m. Monday, May 30. The parade will step off at Medusa Street and travel north on SR. 13 turning onto Main and ending at Syracuse Cemetery where a brief ceremony will be held.

Warsaw – The American Legion will hold a ceremony at 11 a.m. Monday, May 30, at the Preacher’s Stand in Oakwood Cemetery. Ken Locke, chair of the Honor and Remembrance Committee for Koscuisko County will be the featured speaker.

After the service, those present will go to each veteran’s circle in the cemetery to lay a wreath with the playing of Taps and a three-round volley fired at the last one.