Names of 80 deceased Veterans will be honored in special Memorial Day Service
On Memorial Day around 10 a.m. Joe Novak will read the names of 80 deceased military veterans buried in one of the oldest cemeteries in Minnesota , just behind the Church of the Assumption in Richfield at 305 East 77th St.
After Novak reads the names of veterans dating back to the Spanish American War, Cail Rudolph will ring a bell for each one.
This is the highlight of a ceremony sponsored by the Knights of Columbus Marian Council 3827 since the year 2001 when Novak took over the leadership and assumed the list compiled by Tom and, Nancy Golen.
Nancy Golen and her husband, Tom, decided to find the names of the veterans after Tom, a Viet Nam War veteran, decided to do something special to honor veterans buried there. He and his wife developed the list by first checking cemetery tombstones, checking the parish records and calling relatives. They believe the cemetery dates back to the year 1882, one of the oldest in Minnesota.
"It took about two weeks to develop the list," said Nancy Golen who turned it over to the Knights and Novak, after moving out of the parish.
Following the 9 a.m. Sunday Mass, the ceremony will begin with the Posting of the Colors by the Nativity of Mary Boy Scout Troop 374. the reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag.
Either Assumption Parish Pastor Father Liekhus or Father David Shaw will give the Invocation.
Novak will talk about the ceremony and importance of Veterans who gave their lives for their country, followed by saying each name, the ringing of the bell, playing "Taps" by a Scout bugler, and the singing of "God Bless America".
Light refreshments will follow after the ceremony.