The Newspaper of Record since 1878

Plenty to do on Memorial Day weekend to honor vets

Posted

Pictured: Miami’s Memorial Park on Sullivan Street will be the site of a ceremony honoring veterans. 

Photo by Susanne Jerome

For Globe-Miami residents looking for ways to celebrate Memorial Day, there will be several opportunities to choose from, whether volunteering to place flags or attending ceremonies to honor veterans over the course of the weekend.

Beginning at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday May 26, the American Legion Family and VFW will place flags on the graves of veterans at three local cemeteries, Globe and Central Heights as well as Mountain Breeze.

Volunteers can show up at any of the cemeteries to help with the task. The Globe Cemetery is located at 328 Hackney Ave.; the Pinal Cemetery in Central Heights is located on Golden Hill Road, in Miami, and the Mountain Breeze Cemetery is located west of Miami at 3750 US 60.

On Memorial Day, there will be honoring ceremonies in both Miami and Globe, as veterans from across the generations will be recognized for service to the country.

At 9 a.m. on Monday, May 28, there will be a ceremony at Miami Veterans Memorial Park, at the corner of Sullivan and Inspiration streets.

“We select local families who’ve lost family members,” Miami Mayor Darryl Dalley said. “We don’t have a parade, but a low-key ceremony.”

There will also be guest speakers to honor fallen service members.

Dalley will lead the ceremony, which will honor Cpl. Donato Y. Gonzales, who was a prisoner of war in Japan for 3 and 1/2 years.

His son Tony Gonzales will represent the family and talk about the life and service of the elder Gonzales. Dalley said the town also made a brick for him that will be on display at the veterans’ memorial at the park.

Other families honored will be the families of Fernando Trujillo and Vicente Valenzuela.

“When I came back here in 2008, Miami had no ceremonies in the park so I decided to have one,” Dalley said. “We started it up before the wall and memorial were built in the park.”

The ceremony will feature the Globe JROTC and the Miami High School band. JROTC will post the colors and Dalley will read a proclamation

“I’d also like to recognize Cindy Grainger of Forever Flowers in Globe for creating wreaths for our ceremonies each year at no cost,” Dalley said. “She’s been with us from day one.”

There will be light refreshments served after the ceremony.

For more information or questions, call Dalley at 928-719-6921.

Memorial Day services in Globe will start at the Globe Veterans park at 11 a.m., with lunch to follow at the American Legion.

According to Globe American Legion Adjutant Rich Moran, there will be a few speakers and a salute with the cannon in the square. There will also be a chance for the public to express appreciation for members of the military, both past and present.

“It’s important for the public to take time on Memorial Day to remember those who gave their lives in service to our country,” Moran said. “They gave their lives so that we might enjoy the freedoms we have today.”

After the ceremony, the public is invited to join members of the American Legion at the hall, located at 645 S. Broad St., Globe. For information, call 928-425-3405.

The lunch will include hamburgers and hot dogs.

Additionally, the American Legion will host its annual fish fry from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, May 25. There will be beer battered cod, cole slaw, French fires and garlic cheese biscuits. The cost is $8 and all proceeds benefit local veteran causes.

Other Memorial Day events:

Dining with History: Honoring Veterans, sponsored by the Pleasant Valley Historical Society takes place on Saturday, May 26, from 5-7 p.m. at the Young Pioneer Cemetery and the Baptist Church.

Presentations begin at 5 p.m. in the Young Cemetery, dinner will follow in the Baptist Church. The cost is $25 per person. Tickets are available at the Pleasant Valley Museum, Bruzzi Vineyard and Young Realty. Contact Marilyn Freegard, at 928-462-3573, or Sharon Day at 928-462-1384.

All proceeds benefit the Pleasant Valley Historical Society.