Thanks for memorial services

On behalf of the Elgin Patriotic Memorial Association (EPMA), we would like to extend our sincere thanks and appreciation to all of those who helped organize, participated in or attended, this year's Memorial Day service at Bluff City Cemetery, as well as the services at Mt. Hope Cemetery, Lakewood Memorial Cemetery, and the Highland Avenue Bridge Navy and Marine Corps service (which was conducted by the Elgin Navy Club Ship No. 7). We were blessed with a beautiful day, which helped to bring many new, as well as familiar, faces.

This year's Bluff City Cemetery was dedicated to the 140th Anniversary of Memorial Day in Elgin. For his Memorial Day address, E.C. Alft, provided us with the history of Memorial Day in Elgin.

We would also like to thank the Larkin High School Band under the direction of Patrick Henning and the Chamber Singers of the Elgin Choral Union under the direction of Jon Warfel. Their patriotic musical selections were greatly appreciated additions to our program.

Thank you to the staff at Bluff City Cemetery. They make sure Bluff City Cemetery is set up providing the perfect setting for the services. The Avenue of Flags is always impressive.

May we never forget any of the brave men and women who have served, fought and died over hundreds of years while serving this great country of ours. We should be thankful to them every single day for our freedom, our liberty, and our many other countless blessings. Let us please also remember our service men and women who are still in harms way all over the world. May they come home quickly and safely.

Thank you again to all whom took the time out of their schedules to honor these great men and women on their special day of remembrance.

Elgin Patriotic Memorial Association:

Jerry Turnquist

President

Carolyn Hansen

Vice President

Pat Porter

Secretary/Treasurer