American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars groups in the West Salem and Bangor area will hold a number of special Memorial Day events to commemorate the nation’s service men and women.

West Salem services

West Salem’s American Legion Post 51 will begin services at Village Park at 10 a.m. Monday with the posting of the colors. If the weather is inclement, the ceremony will be held at the Legion Hall.

After the invocation and a welcome by Commander Nancy Brown, the roll calls of Civil War, Spanish/American and World War I dead will be read.

Winning essays from Ben Pierce and Tianna Sackett and roll calls of veterans from World War II and the Korean and Vietnam Wars will precede a talk by Assembly Speaker Mike Huebsch, R-West Salem.

Pierce won the essay contest for fifth-graders, while Sackett won for third- and fourth-graders.

After Huebsch’s speech, Liz Staff, second vice president of American Legion Auxiliary Unit 51, will give a scholarship presentation. Mary Schaller, president of the American Legion Auxiliary and Nancy Brown, Commander of Post 51, will then provide brief comments.

After a rifle salute and the playing of taps, Flo Alland, Auxiliary chaplain, will give the benediction and the colors will be retired.

Bangor services

In Bangor, the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars will hold a joint service in the Bangor High School gymnasium beginning at 9 a.m. with the presentation of the colors.

Then the Pledge of Allegiance will be said and the National Anthem sung. After the high school choir sings two songs and does another song with the high school band, a presentation will be given by a speaker from Fort McCoy.

When the services end at around 10 a.m. the Legion and VFW groups will disperse to various cemeteries to conduct services and rifle salutes. There will be ceremonies at Bangor, Fairview, Sand Creek and Fish Creek cemeteries and the Catholic Cemetery in Middle Ridge.