Staff Reports
HOPE — Area residents gathered at American Legion Post 229 in Hope Monday in a ceremony of remembrance for those who have died serving their country, and also veterans who have recently died.
While ceremonies in Columbus were canceled due to concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic, Hope decided to carry on with its tradition of multiple Memorial Day commemorations on Monday, offering eight services honoring military personnel from Flat Rock and Haw Creek townships.
Ceremonies were offered at eight different locations in and around Hope, each consisting of a speech from the commander, a prayer from a chaplain, placing a fresh bouquet of flowers at a designated grave or flagpole, firing of three volleys (21-gun salute) and the playing of “Taps.”
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A ceremony is also conducted each year at 11 a.m. at the Hope Veterans’ Memorial near the entrance to the Moravian Cemetery.
Participating there were members of the Bartholomew County Veterans Honor Guard, the Boy Scouts, as well as children and grandchildren of veterans.
This year, members of American Legion Post 229 are celebrating its centennial. The charter that created the post in Hope was granted on June 16, 1920.
In the 20 years since the memorial in the Moravian Church cemetery was built, the engraved names of deceased veterans has risen from 559 to 796 names. Although the entire west side of the memorial is now covered with names, another 800 can be added to the east side in the future, Reeves said.
Eight additional names are scheduled to be added to the Veteran’s Memorial at the Hope Moravian Cemetery.
William Lucas Lincoln, Army (died Feb. 14, 1971)
Robert Lee Spurgin, Army (died July 29, 2019)
Robert L. Neff, Army (died Aug. 11, 2019)
Rondal E. Trotter, Air Force (died Oct. 7, 2019)
Harold D. Holcomb, Air Force (died April 16, 2016)
Charles H. Pate, Navy (died August 25, 2017)
Morris D. Nading, Army (died April, 18, 2020)
Garry L. Estes, Army (died April 20, 2020)
However, these names will have to wait to be placed on the memorial until later this year, due to factors that include high seasonal demand for stone engravers.
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For more photos of Memorial Day services in Hope, go to therepublic.com.
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