Peoria Memorial Day 2018: Services, Events

PEORIA, IL — Memorial Day weekend in the Peoria area is filled with several ceremonies and events. Journal Star reports the city's main program will take place Monday at the Gateway Building, while a number of ceremonies will be at Peoria's Springdale Cemetery.

The public is also invited to take part in these events:

Friday, May 25:

• 8:30 a.m. to 9 a.m.: American Legion Post 2 will place American flags on Soldiers Hill at Springdale Cemetery.

• 9:30 a.m.: In the Vietnam Memorial Garden at Parkview Cemetery at University Street and Nebraska Avenue. The American Legion Post 2 Color Guard and Rifle Squad will conduct the ceremony. Guest speaker will be Roger Monroe.
• 10:30 a.m.: At American Mausoleum at 7911 N. Allen Road. Guest speaker will be William Loeffel, who will give a speech about the 100th year anniversary (11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, 1918) of the end of World War I. American Legion Limestone Post 979 will present the color guard, honor guard, taps and 21-gun salute. Loeffel served 40 years in the U.S. Army and National Guard, retiring in 2016 as chief warrant officer four, field artillery branch. More on Loeffel and his awards.
• East Peoria - 11 a.m.: At Soldiers Field in Fondulac Cemetery on East Washington Street. VFW Post 2078 will ring a bell for those members who have died since last Veterans Day and honor all veterans, past and present.

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Sunday, May 27:

• 9:15 a.m.: Swan Lake Cemetery
• 10:15 a.m.: St. Mary’s Cemetery.
• 11 a.m.: Hebrew Cemetery.
• 11:45 a.m.: St. Joseph’s Cemetery.
• 12:30 p.m.: Veterans Park at Madison Avenue and Hamilton Boulevard next to the GAR building.
• 2 p.m.: At Soldiers Hill in Springdale Cemetery. The Marine Corps League will hold a short ceremony for Marines, assisted by American Legion Post 2.
• 2:30 p.m.: On Soldiers Hill at Springdale Cemetery, rain or shine, as this location is holding its 150th Memorial Day anniversary event. The program will feature a near exact re-enactment of events at Soldiers Hill 150 years ago. Participants and more event features.

Monday, May 28:

• 10:30 a.m.: At the Gateway Building on the Peoria riverfront. Patti Smith, president of Central Illinois Gold Star Families, will introduce Gold Star families from out of town during the ceremony.
• 1 p.m.: At the Vietnam War Monument at Glen Oak Park. American Legion Post 2 is participating.
• Peoria Heights, 2 p.m.: At Tower Park in Peoria Heights. The Marine Corps League will hold a ceremony remembering all area Marines who have been lost. A luncheon, open to the public, will follow at the Navy-Marine Club at 1310 E. Sieberling Ave.

For more information, including several other nearby town events, visit pjstar.com.

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