Vietnam Memorial hosts annual Christmas ceremony

SPRINGFIELD — Officials are preparing for the Illinois Vietnam Veterans Memorial’s 26th annual ceremony for prisoners of war and service members who remain missing in action.

The ceremony will be Dec. 7 in Springfield’s Oak Ridge Cemetery.

There are 66 Illinoisans listed as MIA or POW in Southeast Asia.

Families and friends of soldiers may hang handmade ornaments on a tree near the memorial. Others attending may bring a weatherproof ornament to hang.

State Sen. Sam McCann, a Carlinville Republican, will be the master of ceremonies. The Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 534 will provide the color guard and the Lincoln Barbershop Chorus will provide Christmas music.

Each of the names will be read and an invocation and benediction will be offered.

The cemetery’s war memorials are open daily.