Begins 11 a.m. at Okmulgee Cemetery

A Memorial Day Service will be held Monday, May 29, at 11 a.m. at the Veterans Circle of Okmulgee Cemetery.

Preparations for the event and honoring deceased veterans will start this morning (Friday) at 9 a.m. as members of the American Legion Post 10, VFW Post 1189, the Okmulgee Elks Lodge and other volunteers will place approximately 2,500 flags on those graves. Anyone wishing to assist may do so by meeting at the cemetery.

Memorial Day is Monday and the annual ceremony honoring the fallen will be held at Okmulgee Cemetery beginning at 11 a.m.

Commander Guy Duckworth of Okmulgee VFW Post 1189 stated Monday’s program will feature the singing of the National Anthem by Jan Muhsman, a few words to those attending, the “Final Roll Call” for deceased veterans and a presentation of wreaths by the various veterans organizations, along with the Gold Star Mother and Veterans Mothers group.

To conclude the service, the Honor Guard will have a firing of volleys using antique Springfield Trapdoor rifles. The Honor Guard consists of Mike Cole, Kenneth Motte, Nash Lindley, Don Turner, Sam Richardson, Mitchell Williams and Jeff Wilson.

Taps will be played to end the event.

Following the ceremony, there will be a dinner served at the VFW Post, 1427 N. Okmulgee Street, for those wishing to attend.

In a related Memorial Day note, Taps Across America 2023 will also be held on Memorial Day. It is an annual event that asks Americans, wherever they are at 3 p.m. local time on Memorial Day, to pause for a duration of one minute to remember those who have died in military service to the United States. Taps Across America promote the sounding of Taps at 3 p.m.