Your family can help put flags on graves, participate in walks or attend services to mark the Memorial Day holiday.
Friday
A local American Legion will hand out poppies.
American Legion Auxiliary members from Edinburgh Post No. 233 will distribute poppies and accept donations in two locations in downtown Edinburgh and at the Edinburgh Outlet Mall. Friday is National Poppy Day. Money is being collected at canisters at Edinburgh businesses.
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Saturday
Franklin American Legion Post 205 needs volunteers to help place flags on veterans’ graves.
Several hundred veterans will be honored at 10 a.m. Saturday at Greenlawn Cemetery in Franklin with taps and a rifle volley. Volunteers are asked to help place flags on the graves of veterans buried at the cemetery.
The Greenwood VFW post is recruiting volunteers for its annual poppy drive on Saturday.
About 20 volunteers are needed. All proceeds help honorably discharged veterans and their families in emergency financial need.
A sign-up sheet is at the post, 333 S. Washington St. Volunteers are needed for the following locations: Tractor Supply stores in Greenwood and Indianapolis; Greenwood Rural King store; Sam’s Club in Greenwood; Walmart on Emerson Avenue and on State Road 135 in Greenwood; and Greenwood and southside Kroger stores.
The Greenwood and Whiteland Veterans Of Foreign Wars and the Greenwood American Legion Posts will jointly sponsor their annual Memorial Service Program at each of the Greenwood cemeteries on Saturday.
The invocation, the setting of the wreath, rifle volley and taps will be conducted in each of the five local cemeteries at the flag pole area.
Services will begin at Rock Lane Cemetery at 9 a.m., followed by Greenwood Cemetery at 9:30 a.m. Mount Pleasant Cemetery service is at 10 a.m. and The Gardens of Olive Branch ceremony is at 10:30 a.m. The service begins at Forest Lawn Cemetery at 11 a.m.
Monday
S.S Francis & Clare Catholic Church, 5901 W. Olive Branch Rd, Greenwood, will conduct its 15th annual Memorial Day Service on Monday. The service will start at 8:45 a.m. with patriotic music, followed by a special Mass with prayers and ceremonies honoring veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice for the nation.
After the Mass, attendees will walk to the flagpole where flags will be lowered to half-mast, as well as a playing of Taps, three rifle volleys, and the singing of the national anthem.
Refreshments will be served in St. Clare Hall. In case of inclement weather, the events will be moved to the hall.
Franklin Parks and Recreation will be hosting the Memorial Day Mile at 9:10 a.m. Monday.
Runners and walkers can register at memorialdaymile.org. Costs range from $5 to $12.
Franklin American Legion will host a Memorial Day ceremony at the Johnson County Courthouse at 11 a.m. Monday, with a pitch-in at the post following. The guest speaker is Jim Phillips, Legion Post 205 trustee.
