North Webster Celebrates With Parade, Commemorates With Ceremony
A flame bursts from the muzzle of one of the rifles in the gun salute given by the American Legion Post 253 honor guard at North Webster Cemetery on Memorial Day. Photo by Ray Balogh.
By Ray Balogh
InkFreeNews
NORTH WEBSTER — Lusty winds helped cool off the participants and observers of North Webster’s Memorial Day parade and memorial ceremony Monday, May 29.
The parade, though short, was enjoyed by children and adults lining Main Street, many of whom followed the procession to North Webster Cemetery, where a memorial service was conducted by American Legion Post 253 and Boy Scout Troop 728.
Hundreds of spectators packed the immediate area around the veteran’s monument at the cemetery, where they took part iin the Pledge of Allegiance and National Anthem and heard the reading of names of departed veterans, followed by “Taps.”.
Local singer Russ Chandler sang “Some Gave All” and ended the ceremony with his rendition of “God Bless the U.S.A.”
Here are some of the sights from Monday morning. Photos by Ray Balogh:
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- One of the littlest patriots attending the parade was flag-waving Alice Sumpter, 18 months, seen her with her dad, Brooks Sumpter. Her mom is Jessica. The family lives in North Webster.
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- The American Legion Honor Guard participated in both the parade and the memorial ceremony afterward.
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- The Wawasee Middle School was one of just a few entries in the North Webster Memorial Day parade.
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- American Legion Post 253 officials salute the half-staff American flag as the Wawasee Middle School plays the National Anthem.
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- Mark Hazelet and Larry Burkhart of North Webster American Legion Post 253 each read off the names of veterans who had passed away. The first list was of North Webster native sons, and the second was of the 13 soldiers who were killed last year by a terrorist attack in Afghanistan. They were the latest casualties of this nation’s war efforts overseas.
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- Local singer Russ Chandler sang heartfelt renditions of “Some Gave All” and “God Bless the U.S.A.”
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- North Webster American Legion Post 253’s Sergeant-at-Arms salutes the wreath he had just laid at the veteran’s monument in North Webster Cemetery.
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- Diane Kimmel, left, her husband, Bob, and Randy and Kathy Birch, all from North Webster, listen to Russ Chandler sing during the Memorial Day ceremony at North Webster Cemetery.
