Family members and friends will be remembered and honored May 28 in a Memorial Day ceremony to commemorate our nation’s fallen on the battlefield and veterans of the military. The observance will be held at the Veterans Monument at the White Hall Museum beginning at 10 a.m. Army Col. Franz J. Amann, who is concluding his third year as commander of the Pine Bluff Arsenal, will be the guest speaker.
Mayor Noel Foster will deliver the welcome address and introduce the participants for the ceremony. Rev. Paul Williams, pastor of White Hall’s First Baptist Church, will give the invocation.
Army Air Force veteran Harry Sy Joe will place the memorial wreath, assisted by members of the White Hall JROTC. The JROTC will post the colors and the precision drill team will participate.
Members of ABATE and the Fallen Riders motorcycle clubs will conduct a processional ride.
The 106th Army Band from Camp Robinson will offer a musical tribute to the veterans and the fallen. Dr. Richard A. Bailey Jr., a member of the faculty of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff as director of sound recording technology, will also perform.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
The American flag will be raised by from the large ladder truck by White Hall firemen at the beginning of the ceremony.
Billy Coble, master of ceremonies, will read the names of those killed and missing in action and the memorial bell will be sounded with each name.
All military, active and retired will be recognized during the program and are invited to attend. Individuals interested in adding a name to the list of the veterans can submit it to Coble upon arrival.
A flyover at the end of the ceremony is planned by the Razorback Chapter of the Experimental Aircraft Association based at Grider Field.
Mary Lou Mauldin, director of the museum at 9009 Dollarway Road, said light refreshments will be available after the ceremony and ample parking will be provided for guests.