Missouri Veterans Commission News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 12, 2015
Memorial Day ceremonies will be held at five State Veterans Cemeteries – Bloomfield, Fort Leonard Wood, Higginsville, Jacksonville, and Springfield on May 25.
Originally called Decoration Day, Memorial Day was established as a day for Americans to honor those who were killed during the Civil War. It was not until after World War I that Memorial Day was expanded to honor those who have died in all American wars. Memorial Day was declared a national holiday in 1971 and was placed on the last Monday in May.
“We owe a great debt of gratitude to those who sacrificed their lives so we could live free. We encourage the public to attend and help honor those who served by not forgetting, by remembering what they did and what they stood for,” said Larry D. Kay, Executive Director of the commission.
The events and times are as follows:
Bloomfield Veterans Cemetery
17357 Stars and Stripes Way
Bloomfield MO 63825
573-568-3871
Ceremony begins at 1:00 pm.
Keynote speaker – J. Michael Mower, Commissioner, Missouri Veterans Commission & Army Veteran
Higginsville Veterans Cemetery
20109 Business Hwy. 13
Higginsville MO 64037
660-584-5252
Ceremony begins at 1:00 pm.
Keynote speaker – Todd Whitney, Lafayette County High School Principal & Marine Veteran
Fort Leonard Wood Veterans Cemetery
25350 Highway H
Waynesville, MO 65583
573-774-3496
Ceremony begins at 1:00 pm
Keynote Speaker – BG Kent Savre, Commanding General MSCoE/Fort Leonard Wood
Jacksonville Veterans Cemetery
1479 County Road 1675
Jacksonville MO 65260
Phone: 660-295-4237
Ceremony begins at 9:00 am.
Keynote speaker – Bryan Hunt, Deputy Director, Missouri Veterans Commission & Army Veteran
Springfield Veterans Cemetery
5201 South Southwood
Springfield MO 65804
Phone: 417-823-3944
Ceremony begins at 1:30 pm.
Keynote speaker – Jerry Jacob, KSPR News Anchor & Army Veteran
The Missouri Veterans Commission operates seven State Veterans Homes, six State Veterans Cemeteries, and the Veterans Services Program. The Commission is committed to honoring and serving Missouri’s Veterans whose dedication and sacrifices have preserved our nation and its freedoms. For more information about the Missouri Veterans Commission programs, call 573-751-3779 or access the Missouri Veterans Commission webpage at www.mvc.dps.mo.gov.
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