By LAAH TUCKER
American Legion Auxiliary Unit 109
Natoma American Legion Post 109 with the American Legion Auxiliary, Unit 109, will be commemorating the 159th Memorial Day Observance on Monday, May 27, 2024. American flags will be posted on veterans' graves by the Post and Unit with volunteers at 7 cemeteries in Osborne and Russell Counties. Natoma's Avenue of Flags will be placed by Post 109 and the Sons of the American Legion. Monday’s cemetery services will be observed at Natoma Catholic, 9:30 AM; North Immanuel Lutheran, 10 AM; Paradise Mount Herman, 10:30 AM; Natoma City Cemetery, 11 AM. The program will include Post 109 Color Guard; welcome and Pledge of Allegiance by Jenjer Murphy, Unit 109 president; Veterans will be remembered by name from the American Revolution, Civil War, War of 1812, Mexican American War, Civil War, Spanish American War, WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm, Afghanistan, Iraq, Conflicts, and through Peace Times by Shawna Dunlap, Unit 109 Chaplain. Camdyn Makings and Andreya Lyle will present poppies for each veteran; Prayer and Message will be given by Pastor Thayne Sparke, Codell Community Church. Everyone will be invited to sing “My Country Tis of Thee” and “God Bless America”. Post Commander William Workman and American Legion Post 109 will present a 21 Gun Salute followed by Lucy Alexander playing “Taps”.
At 11:45 AM, Corporal James W. Castor will be remembered by his sister, Judy Castor, during a dedication of an iron bench located in front of Natoma American Legion Post 109 Hall. Corporal Castor was awarded the Silver Star of Valor, Purple Heart, and many other medals following his death by enemy fire while rescuing fellow soldiers near Quang Nam Province Vietnam, August 8, 1969. After the dedication, a traditional Memorial Day Beef and Noodle Community Dinner will be served by the American Legion Auxiliary, 12 Noon, Post 109 Hall, 520 North First Street, Natoma.
For God and Country, the Natoma American Legion and American Legion Auxiliary continue serving veterans, their families, children, youth, and community with a myriad of projects throughout the year. For information on joining the organizations contact:
Post Commander William Workman, 785-224-7993; Auxiliary President. Jenjer Murphy,
785-885-8079. Poppy is the Remembrance Memorial flower since 1919. After the Second Battle of Ypres, Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, a physician with the Canadian Expeditionary Force, wrote the poem, "In Flanders Fields", in 1915. The opening lines refer to the fields of poppies that grew among the soldiers' graves in Flanders. In 1918, inspired by the poem, YWCA worker Moina Michael attended a YWCA Overseas War Secretaries' conference wearing a silk poppy pinned to her coat and distributed over two dozen more to others present. In 1920, the National American Legion adopted it as their official memorial symbol. Each red crepe paper poppy is hand crafted by a Kansas Disabled Veteran. 100% of donations help disabled and deserving Kansas Veterans.