The Ashley County community is preparing to remember those who gave their lives in service to their country with Memorial Day celebrations on Monday.
The county’s annual wreath laying ceremony which will be at the Veterans’ Memorial Wall in front of the County Courthouse at 11 a.m. Monday, May 29.
Ashley County Veterans Service Officer Cheryl Bailey said in addition to a guest speaker, the ceremony will include the laying of the wreath, the national anthem will be performed for the crowd, and refreshments will be available.
As part of the leadup to the national Memorial Day holiday, Crossett Mayor Crystal Marshall issued a proclamation on Monday, declaring that that day’s date, May 22, will be recognized in the city from this point forward as Poppy Day.
The proclamation asks that all citizens of Crossett “pay tribute to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the name of freedom by wearing the Memorial Poppy during this month.”
The proclamation also declares, “America is the land of freedom, preserved and protected willingly and freely by citizen soldiers,” and that “Millions who have answered the call to arms have died on the field of battle.”
The document continues, “A nation at peace must be reminded of the price of war and the debt owed to those who have died in war.”
It explains, “The red poppy has been designated as the symbol of the sacrifice of the lives in all wars; and…The American Legion Auxiliary has pledged to and will remind all Americans annually of this debt through the distribution of memorial flowers.”
The members of the American Legion Auxiliary will be handing the flowers out at a flag retirement and dedication ceremony at 11 a.m. Friday morning at Timberline Federal Credit Union (TFCU) at 1101 Main Street in Crossett.
The flag retirement and dedication ceremony is open to the public and everyone is invited to attend, and TFCU will be serving hot dogs, chips and a drink free of charge after the ceremony as well.
The Auxiliary members will also be handing the poppies out at Cash Saver, located at 1066 AR HWY 133, beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday, May 27.
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