Dear Editor and Citizens of the Ellsworth area: Memorial Day. For many years, the Ellsworth American Legion and VFW, have together, honored our fallen warriors that rest in the hallowed rounds around the central Ellsworth County area, including the cemetery in Carneiro, the Kanopolis City Cemetery and Buckeye Cemetery and the Ellsworth area, including the East and West cemeteries, the War Memorial at the county courthouse, the river bridge and the Old North Church. It has been an honor and privilege to do this year and after year.

Last year, weather circumstances forced us to cancel trips to all the normal places we visit and focus on one event here in Ellsworth. So we put the word out at the last minute that we would meet at the American Legion and have ONE Memorial Day event followed by the annual legion auxiliary BBQ lunch. Over 100 people gathered in our parking lot and watched as the combined forces of the American Legion, the VFW, the ladies auxiliary, the Sons of the American Legion, the Legion Riders and our guest speaker and the Boy Scouts of America paid tribute to our Honored Dead. It was a hit. Afterwards, at the annual hamburger BBQ, we heard many good things about the day ... people seemed to like doing just one event followed by the annual luncheon.

Days went by and we had a bi-monthly meeting of the American Legion. We talked about the event and how it honestly helped out the veterans themselves, because as they put it, “We aren’t getting any younger.” A lot of the men and women who do these events are over the age of 70. Year after year, it was getting harder and harder to do these events.

Days went by and we had a bi-monthly meeting of the American Legion. We talked about the event and how it helped the veterans ...

So we debated and then consulted with the VFW, and we all agreed to consolidate the annual Memorial Day programs into one big event at the American Legion in Ellsworth. Yes, the Flags will still be hoisted up in the cemeteries, the little flags will still adorn the graves of our Fallen. Now we can focus our time and energy on just the one event, making it better than before.

If the county’s stay-at-home order, due to the coronavirus, has been lifted, please join us at the American Legion at 10 a.m. Monday, May 25, as we honor the fallen warriors of this great Country. Feel free to call or follow the Facebook page of American Legion Post 174 for more information.

Semper Fi

Vice Cmdr Jason Hicks

Ellsworth American Legion Post 174