A list of Memorial Day services and ceremonies throughout Champaign-Urbana and surrounding areas:
Sunday
Surrounding areas
- Rantoul Post 287 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6750 will host a ceremony at noon at Beckman Cemetery, between Thomasboro and Flatville.
- Penfield/Gifford American Legion Post 1153 will host a ceremony at 12:30 p.m. at Penfield Veterans Memorial, on the I&I grounds in Penfield; a 1 p.m. ceremony at Wells Cemetery, Penfield; and a 1:30 p.m. ceremony at Huls Cemetery, Gifford.
- The Bement American Legion will host ceremonies at the following cemeteries: at noon at Hammond Cemetery; at 12:30 p.m. at Bement Township Cemetery; at 1 p.m. at St. Joseph Cemetery, Ivesdale; and at 1:30 p.m. at St. Boniface Cemetery, Seymour.
Monday, Memorial Day
Champaign-Urbana
- Memorial Day observances begin with a 9 a.m. ceremony at Woodlawn Cemetery by Champaign Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5520. There will be a keynote speaker, clergy will be present for a prayer, and a 21-gun salute will be fired followed by the playing of live taps.
- AMVETS Post 3 will host their annual 10:30 a.m. service at Grandview Memorial Gardens, Route 150, west of Champaign. There will be a keynote speaker, a presentation of the colors by Richard L. Pittman Marine Corps League Detachment 1231, and a 21-gun salute fired by Champaign Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5520, followed by the playing of taps. The Toast of Champaign will sing a few songs, and the Heritage Girls will perform a recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance.
- The holiday will be observed by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 630 with an American flag-raising at 11:45 a.m. followed by the playing of taps and a 3 p.m. moment of silence. Both events will take place in front of the Post home, 1303 E. Main St., Urbana.
- American Legion Post 559 will host a service at noon at Lincoln Memorial Gardens, 1803 N. Coler Ave., Urbana. The main entrance to the cemetery is off of Lincoln Avenue. Past American Legion Department of Illinois 19th District Commander Cheryl Walker will be the guest speaker, and the VFW Post 5520 Honor Guard will post colors and fire a 21-gun salute.
- Champaign American Legion Post 24 will not be having its annual program inside the Mount Hope Mausoleum, but the Champaign American Legion Post 24 Honor Guard will provide a 21-gun salute and the playing of taps at 2 p.m. west of the Mount Hope Mausoleum in Mount Hope Cemetery, Champaign.
Savoy
- American Legion Post 1492 will have an 11 a.m. wreath-laying ceremony at the Savoy Veteran’s Memorial, in front of the Robert C. McCleary Municipal Center, 611 N. Dunlap Ave. Diane Ducey will be the MC, and there will be several guest speakers, including Savoy Village President John Brown, Post 1492 Chaplain Bud Vandiver and keynote speaker American Legion Auxiliary Department of Illinois Auxiliary President Jill Layton. Scout Troops 13, 1 and 55 will post colors and perform taps at the ceremony.
Surrounding areas
- Sidney American Legion Post 433 will have its ceremony at Mt. Hope Cemetery, Sidney, at 10 a.m. A cannon provided by Jim Wood and a 21-gun salute will be fired by the Sidney American Legion Post 433 Honor Guard followed by the playing of taps.
- Philo American Legion Post 1171 will host services at 9:30 a.m. at the Philo veterans monument downtown followed by a 10 a.m. ceremony at Immaculate Conception Cemetery by the Immaculate Conception Church, Bongard; a 10:30 a.m. ceremony at Calvary Cemetery, 1 mile east of Philo; and an 11 a.m. ceremony at Locust Grove Cemetery, Philo. Veterans’ graves will be marked with an American Flag, names will be read, and a 21-gun salute will be fired followed by live taps being played at each cemetery and at the Philo veterans monument.
- Penfield/Gifford American Legion Post 1153 will host a ceremony at 10:30 a.m. at St. Lawrence Catholic Cemetery, south of Penfield. A second ceremony will be held at the veterans memorial in Werner Roessler Memorial Park, Gifford, at noon.
- Homer American Legion Post 290 will host an 11 a.m. ceremony at G.A.R. Cemetery, Homer. A free-will-offering (donations of choice) smorgasbord will follow the ceremony at the Jack Ellis Community Center. The smorgasbord is sponsored by American Legion Post 290 Auxiliary Unit 290.
- An 11 a.m. ceremony will take place at the Rantoul Family Sports Complex veterans memorial, 744 S. Murray Road, Rantoul. Members of both the Rantoul American Legion Post 287 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6750 color guards will participate in the ceremony.
