Memorial Day services begin today

Saturday's annual Memorial Day weekend commemoration
at the Blackford Walk of Honor drew dozens of visitors.

Four traditional services over Memorial Day weekend will honor Americans who died while members of the U.S. military, whether on the battlefield, at sea, in the air, as prisoners of war or otherwise performing sworn duties for the nation.

In Crittenden County, on Saturday, the annual Blackford Walk of Honor Memorial Day ceremony will take place at 2 p.m. The featured speaker is retired U.S. Navy Commander Don Gatewood of Crittenden County, with former state representative and retired Navy Capt. Mike Cherry emceeing the event. Organized by Brent Witherspoon each year, it carries the distinction of being the newest ceremony in Crittenden County, as well as typically drawing the largest crowd of the county’s three Memorial Day ceremonies.

On Memorial Day, at 10 a.m., American Legion Post 111 will host its usual ceremony at Mapleview Cemetery with Crittenden County native Kentucky Army National Guard Col. Scott A. Campbell as the guest speaker. In 2012, Campbell led the 149th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, a force of guardsmen from several states, out of Iraq without a single loss of life in the unit to help close out the war there.

Also on Memorial Day, Shady Grove Cemetery Association will host its traditional service at 11 a.m., followed by a meal. Kentucky Supreme Court Justice Bill Cunningham will once again be the featured speaker at the solemn event.

Livingston County will not be without its own commemoration of the military over the holiday weekend. American Legion Post 217 in Burna will honor the active duty personnel of Livingston County, as well as the deceased veterans. Justice Cunningham will be the featured speaker at an 8 a.m. memorial service conducted on the Legion’s property just off U.S. 60 in  Burna. The ceremonies are open to the public and will be followed by a complimentary breakfast.