Outdoor ceremony to include two memorial dedications on eve of Memorial Day
By Josh Bootsma
LANSING, Ill. (May 26, 2021) – Continuing a nearly 30-year tradition, the Lansing Veterans Memorial Ceremonial Honor Guard will once again host a Memorial Day service at the Lansing Veterans Memorial. The ceremony will start at 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 30 at the memorial, which is located near the Ford Hangar, southeast of the intersection of Glenwood-Lansing Road and Burnham Avenue.
The program for the service includes a raising of the American Flag, the singing of the national anthem by members of the South Suburban Chorale, some speeches, presentation of casket flags, placement of wreaths, and a rifle salute.
In the past, the event has drawn crowds of 100 or more, and event organizers are hopeful that this year’s service will draw an even larger crowd. “Seeing as the weather’s going to be decent and word’s been out, we’re expecting a much larger crowd,” said Rich Dominiak, one of the founding members of the Honor Guard in Lansing.
Notable guests and dedications
In addition to the South Suburban Chorale leading the National Anthem, the Department of Defense Rifle Team will provide the Rifle Salute at the end of Sunday’s service.
John Meeks will be a guest speaker at the event, and is part of the U.S. War Dogs Association Chapter 3. Meeks served in Vietnam and the Artus dog statue that was added to the Lansing Veterans Memorial in 2018 is modeled after the dog that Meeks served with and later wrote a book about. Dedication of the Artus statue will be part of Sunday’s ceremony.
The service will also include the dedication of a tri-panel memorial honoring Master Sergeant Nathan Goodman, a Lansing native who was killed in a special forces training accident in 2020. The memorial is being completed this week in time for Sunday’s dedication.
Other details
As of this writing, the weather looks to be accommodating for the roughly hour-long outdoor event. “We suggest people that are attending bring a folding lawn chair because there will be no seating arrangements,” Dominiak said.
Masks and social distancing will not be required at the event.
The Lansing Veterans Memorial is located next to the Ford Hanger, at the southeast corner of Glenwood-Lansing Road and Burnham Avenue. The Lansing Veterans Memorial Ceremonial Honor Guard’s Facebook page is available here.
Related
- LVMCHG observes Veterans Day at Lansing Veterans Memorial (November 11, 2020)
- Vietnam scout dog Artus to be added to Lansing Veterans Memorial (November 7, 2018)
