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CRESWELL – Gene Lord, officer of the day, places the green wreath at the Veterans Memorial on Monday, May 31. Lord said the wreath represents the “life of our country, our soldiers and our citizens. It is green because the country is still growing.”
The Creswell VFW conducted its traditional Memorial Day service at the Veterans Memorial site beside the South Lane County Fire station on Monday, May 31. Creswell’s Col. Richard Heyman and his wife Barbara were among the notable participants.
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Creswell stands in honor of Memorial Day.
According to Don Ehrich, lifelong Creswell resident and a senior leader in the Coast Fork Kiwanis Club, “My hometown of only 5,000 lost one soldier in WWI, one soldier in WWII, one sailor in the Korean War, one Marine in Vietnam and one sailor on the Pueblo.” Barry Barreau (lower right) performs Taps to conclude Creswell’s ceremony. “Barry never served, but has performed this task in Creswell every year since that first year in 1969. Barry visited a total of 10 cemeteries in our area and performed a relevant tune plus Taps at each in turn,” Ehrich said.
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Springfield Memorial Day celebration at the VFW.
The Springfield VFW hosted its Memorial Day weekend BBQ in drive-thru, which included its classic Chicken Shack menu of chicken, corn, macaroni salad, baked beans and coleslaw at the VFW Hall.
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Eugene/Springfield NAACP honors Memorial Day in Washington Park with music and books.
The Eugene/Springfield NAACP hosted its 10th annual Memorial Day BBQ with free food and children’s activities at Washington Park in Eugene. The event was started by the Lane Community College Black Student Union in 2011. There was an open mic, free books and information on summer programs. Cottage Grove held a virtual event, hosted by American Legion Post 32, VFW Post 3473, and the City of Cottage Grove.
– Chronicle staff report
