Veterans group plans Memorial Day events

The Daily Inter Lake

The United Veterans of the Flathead Valley invite the public to attend their Memorial Day observances throughout the valley.

The first ceremony begins at 10:15 a.m. May 28 at the Whitefish Cemetery.

United Veterans then will be at the Glacier Memorial Gardens Cemetery at 11:30 a.m., followed by a ceremony at noon at the new VFW Post No. 2252 on First Avenue West in Kalispell.

At 1 p.m., they will be at a ceremony at C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery in Kalispell.

They will travel to Fairview Cemetery at 1:45 p.m., and then to the Veterans Memorial at Marantette Park in Columbia Falls to conduct a 2:30 p.m. ceremony, then at 3 p.m. to Woodlawn Cemetery in Columbia Falls.

The concluding event will be at 3:30 p.m. at the Montana Veterans Home cemetery.

United Veterans comprises representatives of all the veterans organizations in the valley, including the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, American Legion, Marine Corps League, their auxiliaries, and the National Guard.

United Veterans will provide an honor guard to perform military honors for any deceased veteran, consisting of a captain of the guard, flag bearers, and a firing squad, bugler and flag presenter. Area mortuaries make arrangements at the request of families.

Occasionally, United Veterans are asked to perform at flag-raising ceremonies, parades, and other events. All members are volunteers.

United Veterans operate on donations for services performed. During 2006, more than 100 services for veterans were held.

United Veterans always is looking for men and women to join their ranks. Anyone interesting in joining the honor guard may call Jim Aho at VFW Post No. 2252 in Kalispell at 752-2611, Jim Heibert at 862-3507, or Jerry Collins at 752-0198.