Grey skies and rain were the order of the day Monday as area residents gathered to pay their respects to fallen military veterans at local cemeteries in honor of Memorial Day.
The Honor Guard and Rifle Company from Becker American Legion Post 193 performed observances at six area cemeteries during the day, with the final service conducted at the Becker Cemetery.
The weather did not keep a large group from making the trip to the cemetery, standing with hands over hearts as the Legion members carried the Colors into the site.
Legion member John Riebel conducted the ceremony, reading an essay from a BHS senior instead of a speech. Becker Sons of the American Legion Commander John Fischbach also addressed the audience, and Bruno Gad read off the list of the fallen veterans from this area.
The young ladies from the Anderson family presented the floral tributes on the Veteran’s Memorial in the cemetery, and “Taps,” the military bugle call played in honor of fallen soldiers, was played by former BHS music teacher Peter Olson.
The BHS Marching Band was also on hand, under the direction of Jessica Gilbertson for the final time at the Memorial Day observances as she will be leaving the Becker district at the close of the school year. The band began the ceremony by playing “The Star Spangled Banner” and “America the Beautiful.”
