Judson University will be closed on Monday, May 30, in observance of the Memorial Day holiday. Regular business hours will resume on Tuesday, May 31. We hope you are able to enjoy this time and can honor the profound sacrifices of those who served our country in the armed services and their family members.
Here are several programs planned for Elgin area residents to observe this holiday
Lakewood Memorial Park, 9:15 a.m., Monday, May 30
30W730 US 20 Elgin
A service to honor those buried at Lakewood Memorial Park located at 30W730 US 20 will be held at the cemetery’s Garden of Honor. A combined Color Guard, rifle salute and the playing of Taps are planned.
Elgin Veterans Memorial Park, 9:45 a.m., Monday, May 30
274 N. Grove Ave. Elgin
Organized by the Elgin Navy Club and the Elgin Marine Corps League, this program is specially designed to pay tribute to veterans interred at sea. Flowers will be strewn into the Fox River and a rifle salute and playing of Taps will conclude the service.
Bluff City Cemetery, 11 a.m., Monday, May 30
945 Bluff City Blvd. Elgin
The Annual Memorial Day Program, which this year pays tribute to the 75th anniversary of D-Day. The keynote speaker will be local historian George Rowe. The program also includes the Elgin Master Chorale and Northwest Baptist Bible Academy. Local students will continue the long-held tradition of reading Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address and Gen. John Logan’s Orders, which established Memorial Day. A poem composed by the city’s Poet Laureate Chasity Gunn will be read. Wreaths will be laid at the Grand Army of the Republic memorial and there will be a roll call of deceased veterans, rifle salute and the playing of Taps. A free shuttle bus transport people from the main and east gates before the service and return them after. Because there will be limited seating, those who attend are encouraged to bring a lawn chair. The program will be broadcast live on WRMN, 1410-AM.
In the case of inclement weather, the event will be moved to the Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin. Information will be posted at www.cityofelgin.org.