Members of the Kansas National Guard will attend and participate in Memorial Day events at multiple communities around the state. According to the agency, a couple of events are scheduled on Saturday, while the rest wile be on Monday.
The following events are scheduled for Saturday:
Topeka
Tech. Sgt. Daniel Berends and Senior Airman T.J. Seelbach Jr., will help place flags on the graves of 300 Civil War veterans at the Topeka Cemetery, SE 10th and California, starting at 8:30 a.m.
Holton/Jackson County
Maj. Chuck Leivan, 2nd Battalion, 130th Field Artillery; and Maj. Shawn Plankinton, Joint Forces Headquarters Kansas-Land Component, will be assisting members of VFW 1367 with raising 135 flags at the Holton cemetery for the avenue of flags. Lt. Col. Erich Campbell, Senior Army Advisor, Kansas National Guard, and Boy Scout Troop 3064 will be placing flags on all veterans’ graves in Jackson County.
The following events are scheduled for Monday:
Canton
Master Sgt. Basil Pepperd, Master Sgt. Keith Woodrome and Tech. Sgt. Jarrod Delong, 184th Intelligence Wing, will participate in a Memorial Day ceremony at the Canton Cemetery. The event begins at 11 a.m. The airmen will be serving as the rifle detail for the event.
Cassoday
Chief Master Sgt. William Stacey, 184th Intelligence Wing, will be participating in a Memorial Day ceremony at the Cassoday Veterans Memorial. The ceremony begins at 7 p.m. Stacey will serve as the presiding official for the flag ceremony and will be leading the Pledge of Allegiance.
Clay Center
Staff Sgt. Jeffrey Metz, Detachment 2, 250th Forward Support Company, will be the guest speaker at a Memorial Day ceremony at the Steele City, Nebraska, cemetery. The ceremony begins at 2 p.m. Immediately following that ceremony he will be speaking at the Joy Creek Cemetery, Hollengberg, Kansas.
Clifton
Col. (Promotable) Robert Windham, deputy commander of the 35th Infantry Division, will be the guest speaker at a Memorial Day ceremony in Clifton, Kan. The ceremony, sponsored by the Clifton American Legion Post, begins at 10 a.m. in Berner Memorial Park.
Colony
Sgt. John Zillner, Company B, Recruiting and Retention Battalion, will be participating in a Memorial Day ceremony at the Colony cemetery. The ceremony begins at 9 a.m. Zillner will serve as a member of the American Legion Post #48 color guard.
Everest
Master Sgt. Eric Thompson, Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 2nd Battalion, 130th Field Artillery, will be participating in a Memorial Day ceremony at the Everest cemetery. The ceremony begins at 1 p.m. and Thompson will be the bugler for the event.
Garnett
Sgt. John Zillner, Company B, Recruiting and Retention Battalion, will be participating in a Memorial Day ceremony at the Garnett cemetery. The ceremony begins at 11 a.m. Zillner will serve as a member of the American Legion Post #48 color guard.
Hiawatha
Lt. Col. Erich Campbell, Senior Army Advisor for the Kansas National Guard, will be the guest speaker at a Memorial Day ceremony in Hiawatha. Retired Col. William Vonderschmidt will be serving as the emcee for the ceremony. The ceremony will be held at the Brown County Historical Society Museum, 611 Utah St., and will begin at 10 a.m.
Highland
1st Lt. Nick Carlson, 2nd Battalion, 130th Field Artillery, will be the guest speaker at a Memorial Day ceremony in Highland. The ceremony will be held at the Doniphan West High School, 402 E Main St., and begins at 9:30 a.m. Immediately following the program a brief ceremony will be held at Highland cemetery.
Hillsboro
Retired Col. Timothy Marlar, will be the guest speaker at a Memorial Day ceremony at the Memorial Park in Hillsboro. The ceremony, sponsored by the American Legion Post 366, begins at 10:30 a.m.
Holton/Jackson County
Maj. Chuck Leivan, 2nd Battalion, 130th Field Artillery; and Maj. Shawn Plankinton, Joint Forces Headquarters Kansas-Land Component, will travel to 13 cemeteries in south Jackson county and participate in Memorial Day ceremonies as part of the rifle team starting at 7 a.m. A ceremony will be held at the Holton Cemetery beginning at 11 a.m.
Col. Russell Richardson, 35th Infantry Division, will be the guest speaker at a Memorial Day ceremony in Holton, Kan. Master Sgt. Antonio Slaughter, 35th Infantry Division, will be the master of ceremonies. Retired Maj. Gen. John Davoren will be laying the wreath and retired Sgt. 1st Class Richard Jackson will lead the prayer. The ceremony is held in memory of Master Sgt. Bernard “Bernie” Lee Deghand. Deghand, a member of the Kansas National Guard, killed in action in Afghanistan Sept. 15, 2006. The ceremony will be at the Holton Town Square and begins at 12 p.m. Lunch will be served immediately following the ceremony at VFW Post 1367, 926 W 6th Street.
Horton
Sgt. 1st Class Travis McClain, Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 2nd Battalion, 130th Field Artillery, will participate in a Memorial Day ceremony at the Horton Cemetery. The event begins at 10 a.m. McClain will assist with a ceremonial flag folding.
Junction City
Chaplain (Maj.) Doug Brown, 35th Infantry Division, will be the guest speaker at a Memorial Day ceremony at the Junction City Veterans Park. The event begins at 1 p.m.
Lenexa
Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Peter Jaramillo, 35th Infantry Division, will participate in a Memorial Day ceremony at the Resurrection Catholic Cemetery, 8321 Quivira Rd., Lenexa. The ceremony begins at 8:30 a.m. The ceremony will include an invocation and blessing of the Risen Christ statue with a procession.
Manhattan
Sgt. 1st Class Kevin Newell, 2nd Battalion, 130th Field Artillery; Sgt. 1st Class Jared Allen, 2nd Battalion, 235th Regiment; and Staff Sgt. William Cookson, 2nd Battalion, 235th Regiment will be participating in a Memorial Day ceremony at the Kansas Veterans Cemetery, 5181 Wildcat Creek, Manhattan. The event begins at 10 a.m. The soldiers will serve as the rifle detail.
Marysville
Soldiers from Detachment 1, Battery A, 2nd Battalion, 130th Field Artillery will participate in a Memorial Day ceremony at the Marysville Cemetery, 1401 N 18th. The ceremony begins at 11 a.m. Members of the unit will be placing a flag and flowers on the Unknown Soldier’s grave during the ceremony.
Topeka
Senior Master Sgt. Doug Zerger, 190th Air Refueling Wing, will be the guest speaker at a Memorial Day ceremony at Mount Hope Cemetery Chapel, 4700 SW 17th St. The ceremony begins at 11 a.m.
Maj. Gen. Lee Tafanelli, the adjutant general, will provide opening comments for the Veterans’ Tribute at the Great Overland Station, 701 N Kansas Ave. Chaplain (Col.) David Jenkins, Kansas Army National Guard, will provide the invocation and benediction. Master Sgt. James McDonald and Tech. Sgt. Daniel Berends, 190th Air Refueling Wing, will take part in the massing of colors. A BBQ luncheon will be served at 12:30 p.m. and the ceremony begins at 2 p.m. with the second annual massing of colors and the Santa Fe Band.
Wichita
Chief Master Sgt. Bill Angstadt, Tech. Sgt. Ashley Fournier, and Staff Sgt. Marianela Jennings, 184th Intelligence Wing, will participate in a Memorial Day ceremony at the Greenwood Cemetery, 6231 W 47th St. South. The ceremony begins at 11 a.m. The airmen will serve as the honor guard for a flag folding ceremony.
Master Sgt. Marla Harris, 184th Intelligence Wing, Wichita, will be standing in the flag line at a Memorial Day ceremony at the Resthaven Cemetery, 11800 W Highway 54. The ceremony begins at 11 a.m.
Wilson
Capt. Dave Olds, Master Sgt. Kenny Everett, Master Sgt. Henry Devader, Tech. Sgt. Steve Parker, Tech. Sgt. Chris Barth, Staff Sgt. Andrew Babb, Staff Sgt. Sheldon Dillinger, Staff Sgt. Zach Williams, 184th Intelligence Wing, will participate in a Memorial Day ceremony at the Wilson Cemetery. The event, sponsored by the American Legion Post 262, begins at 9:30 a.m. The airmen will serve as the rifle detail for the ceremony.
Gladstone, Missouri
Brig. Gen. Eric Peck, commander of the Kansas Army National Guard and assistant adjutant general-Army, will be the guest speaker at a Memorial Day ceremony at the Gladstone, Missouri, city hall, 7010 N Holmes St. The ceremony begins at 1 p.m.
