An annual ceremony hosted by local veterans groups will return to Pella on Sunday. 

VFW Post 5242 and American Legion Post 89 will co-host a Memorial Day remembrance event on Sunday in the Pella Memorial Building. The event will include special music, a presentation of a memorial wreath, a report of the past year’s burials, and guest speaker. The ceremony will conclude with the playing of taps and a rifle salute. Executive Director of the Marion County Commission of Veteran Affairs, American Legion Post 89 member, and retired Lieutenant Colonel with the United States Air Force Rob Bandstra encourages the community to join them to honor the ultimate sacrifice made by veterans that have fallen in the line of duty.

“We know that it’s a busy time of year with the beginning of summer, graduations, and everything going on, but we think it’s so important to stop for an hour and observe and memorialize all of our veterans who have fallen and to thank them for their contributions to our country.”

Bandstra also says that the VFW and American Legion Posts have also set up their Avenue of Flags at Oakwood Cemetery in Pella and Graceland Cemetery in Knoxville. He adds that they made a large addition to the Avenue of Flags at Oakwood Cemetery last year, and that he is grateful for the many volunteers that helped them place those flags.

“We’ve gone from 70 flags to over 140, and you can see them now when you’re driving by on Washington Street. And it’s just a fantastic addition to Oakwood Cemetery to honor our veterans on Memorial Day. We hope that everybody drives through and appreciates those new flags, and that was a collective effort by the VFW, the American Legion, Central College, as well as local industries and individuals.”

The Memorial Day Service at the Pella Memorial Building will begin at 2 pm.