Emporia, area residents pause to reflect on Memorial Day

Under a partly cloudy sky, Emporians gathered at the All Veterans Memorial to pay their respects to military service personnel who never made it home from combat as well as those who passed away over the last year.

The city’s annual Memorial Day service featured readings, including “Flanders Field” by Army veteran Lesley Hedges.

Another reading, “My Brother,” was handled by author and Army veteran Jerry Laurendine.

Navy veteran Ed Rathke also had a reading on the origins of Memorial Day — originally known as Decoration Day to honor the graves of Civil War soldiers — before residents honored veterans who have died over the last 12 months.

 

The event also included Taps and a salute to all departed veterans.

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