Memorial Day ceremonies in Burlington, Otto and Basin

The American Legion Post 29 is holding Memorial Day ceremonies at the cemeteries in Burlington, Otto and Basin. 

The first ceremony on Memorial Day is at Burlington at 9 a.m.  In addition to the Legion ceremony, there will be music and a speaker. 

Organizers for the Otto cemetery ceremony request attendees be to the cemetery and in place by 9:45 a.m. This way the Legion ceremony, which starts at 10 a.m., will not be disrespected by interruptions from vehicles and people. There will also be a singer, poetry and a speaker. 

 To honor our lost veterans, The American Legion Post 29 and American Legion Auxiliary Unit 29 will hold a ceremony at the Basin cemetery.  The Basin Boys State/Girls State delegates will have a presentation and the Auxiliary will hold the wreath-laying ceremony (weather permitting).  

Following the ceremony, the Post/Unit 29 is hosting a picnic and BBQ at Washington Park (again, weather permitting) for veterans and their families. Should the weather not cooperate, the picnic/BBQ will be moved indoors to the American Legion/Chamber building.  

Hamburgers, hot dogs and drinks will be provided.  Veterans and families, please bring a side dish and/or dessert and lawn chairs.

 Memorial Day was originally established after the Civil War in 1868 and was known as Decoration Day.  The commemoration of Decoration Day, or, as it increasingly became known, Memorial Day, continued through the late nineteenth and early twentieth century as an informal patriotic holiday. After World War I, the event was expanded to honor those who died in all American wars. 

In 1950 a congressional joint resolution requested a presidential proclamation calling upon the people of the United state to observe each Memorial Day as a day of prayer for permanent peace. 

 A congressional resolution in 1966 officially recognized a century of Memorial Day events held on May 30 in Waterloo, NY, officially proclaimed by President Lyndon B. Johnson. The federal government declared this location as the “birthplace” of Memorial Day. Shortly after that, the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, legislation enacted in 1968 — effective in 1971 — designated Memorial Day a national holiday and moved it from May 30 to the last Monday in May.

According to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, on Memorial Day the flag should be flown at half-staff from sunrise until noon only, then raised briskly to the top of the staff until sunset in honor of the nation’s battle heroes.