Veterans groups to hold Memorial Day events

May 28—Memorial Day is more than just a day to play by the pool or fire up the grills. It is a day for reflection and remembrance in honor of all who have served in the military.

Various veterans groups will hold events throughout the weekend to honor members of the armed forces. Ceremonies by the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary Post 5202 and American Legion of Waynesville will include the playing of taps, wreath placement and special speakers. Memorial service at Garrett-Hillcrest Cemetery

Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary Post 5202 will hold a Memorial Day service at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 28, at the flagpole of Garrett-Hillcrest Cemetery, 886 Russ Ave. in Waynesville. Bill Wilke will be the speaker.Memorial service at Green Hill Cemetery

American Legion will sponsor a veterans memorial service Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Green Hill Cemetery, 129 Legion Drive, Waynesville. There will be a tent set up with chairs, and the honor guard will be present.Painting the Big Gun

Canton Veterans of Foreign Wars plan to work through the weekend on the refurbishment of the Big Gun memorial in Clyde. Keith Rinehart, quartermaster from post 5198, said that he hopes it will be a good community event.

On Memorial Day, the group will gather at the Big Gun at noon, which is at the stop light across from Clyde Town Hall.

Rinehart said the group recently lost some members, so the goal of the event is to try to bring back as many people as they can and bridge the gap between age groups.

"We have a growing amount of younger veterans," Rinehart stated. "The younger guys are stepping in but we want to fix the gap between the ages. We want to get the older veterans back also.

"We want to try to finish repainting and maybe have a barbecue," he said, and coloring books for the kids.

The Canton VFW will also have a community outreach and fundraising event at noon, Saturday, June 25.