Residents of Mower County and the surrounding area will have many opportunities on Monday to say thank you to those that gave their lives in defense of the country.

Veterans’ organizations will be holding Memorial Day ceremonies at local cemeteries and memorials throughout the area, and the general public is invited to attend.

“Memorial Day was formed to honor the men and women who gave up their lives in the service of their country,” said VFW Post 1216 Commander Scott Weichmann. “That is all the reason you need to honor (Memorial Day) and what it stands for. It’s great that in America we have the freedoms that we have. What I like for people to remember is a price was paid for that freedom by men and women in service to their country.”

The Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs will hold a memorial ceremony at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery in Preston. There will be musical selections performed by the 34th Infantry Division Band, followed by a program and a Parade of Flags. Lt. Col. Craig Neuzil will deliver the memorial address.

All other Memorial Day ceremonies in and around Mower County will be held on Monday.

“It’s important for people to come together and remember that we’re all Americans, that we all live under (the American) flag, and there was a price paid,” Weichmann said. “Think a little bit this weekend about the freedoms that we enjoy and realize that men and women in this country gave their lives for those freedoms.”

Olaf B. Damm VFW Post 1216, Austin American Legion Post 91, American Legion Spam Post 570 and DAV Post 27

• Raising the Colors at the American Legion and VFW, 6:30 a.m.
• Participant Breakfast at the American Legion, 6:45 a.m.
• Veterans Memorial Ceremony, 7:45 a.m.
• Parade along Fourth Avenue Northeast, Main Street and First Avenue Northeast, 8:45 a.m. (line-up at 8:30 a.m.)
• Oakwood Cemetery, 9:30 a.m.
• Burial at Sea Tribute at Horace State Park Bridge, 10:15 a.m.
• Cavalry Cemetery (VFW, DAV), 11 a.m.
• Grandview Cemetery (American Legion), 11 a.m.
• Lansing Cemetery (VFW, DAV), 11:30 a.m.
• Enterprise Cemetery (American Legion), 11:30 a.m.
• Midway/Oakland Cemetery (VFW/DAV), noon

Harry T. Anderson American Legion Post 140

• Immanuel Lutheran and Pleasant Valley Cemetery – 8 a.m.
• St. John’s Cemetery – 8:15 a.m.
• Racine-Salem Cemetery – 8:35 a.m.
• Sumner Cemetery – 8:50 a.m.
• Hamilton Cemetery – 9:10 a.m.
• Frankford Cemetery – 9:25 a.m.
• Bear Creek Cemetery – 9:40 a.m.
• Program at Grand Meadow High School – 10:15 a.m.
• Grand Meadow Cemetery – 11:15 a.m.
• St. Finbarr’s Cemetery – 11:30 a.m.
• Dexter Cemetery – 11:45 a.m.
• Zion Lutheran Cemetery – 12:05 p.m.
• Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery – 12:30 p.m.
• Hoflanda Cemetery – 12:45 p.m.

Adams American Legion Post 146

• Navy Ceremony at County Road 7 Bridge, south of Adams Legion – 9 a.m.
• Johnsburg Ceremony – 9:30 a.m.
• St. Peters Cemetery – 10:15 a.m.
• Little Cedar Lutheran Cemetery – 11 a.m.
• Sacred Heart Cemetery – 11:45 a.m.
• Lunch at Little Cedar Lutheran Church – noon
• Flag Burning Ceremony at Adams Legion – 1 p.m.

Lyle American Legion Post 105

• Cedar City Cemetery, 9 a.m.
• London Cemetery, 9:30 a.m.
• Deer Creek Cemetery (Iowa), 10 a.m.
• Woodbury Cemetery, 10:30 a.m.
• Mona Cemetery (Iowa), 11 a.m.
• Six Mile Grove Cemetery, 11:30 a.m.

Blooming Prairie American Legion Post 52

• St. Columbanus Cemetery – 11 a.m.
• Memorial Day Dinner and Presentation at the Blooming Prairie Servicemen’s Club, noon