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Ada cemetery to host Memorial Day tribute

Ada Evening News - 5/26/2017

May 26--For the first time in more than two decades, Ada'sRosedale Cemetery will host a Memorial Day tribute this year.

The American Legion will oversee the tribute, which will begin at 9 a.m. Monday in front of the Rosedale Cemetery chapel. The event will go on even if there is a light rain that morning, but it will be canceled in case of severe weather.

The event will include an American Legion cemetery ceremony, conducted by retired U.S. Army veterans Dr. Rich Putnam and Jerry Kercheval. Other highlights include:

--A 21-gun salute by the Chickasaw National Honor Guard.

--A rendition of "Taps" by musician James Stout.

--The Pledge of Allegiance led by 5-year-old Ada resident Noah Graham.

--A reading of the 23rd Psalm by Jadyn Jackson, 7, a member of Girls Scouts of Eastern Oklahoma Troop 16.

--A performance of the national anthem by Candy Weddle of Score Broadcasting.

Cpl. Darrell Bolich, a veteran of the D-Day invasion of World War II, will be the guest speaker.

Local law enforcement agencies will be represented during the event, which is free and open to the public. Members of several local Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts troops will also be present.

Restroom facilities will be available during the event, and Trinity Baptist Church will provide free ice water for people attending.

The cemetery will be decorated with more than 390 American flags for the event, sexton Daniel Murray said Wednesday. He said people whose relatives are buried at Rosedale may honor their loved ones by purchasing flags for $150 apiece, and the flags will be displayed each Memorial Day.

"It's a one-time fee, and we take care of them from then on," he said. "As long as there's a city of Ada, there's going to be a flag put out every Memorial Day on or before the fourth Friday and picked up the Tuesday after -- unless they're wet. We'll leave them out another day to dry."

City Public information director Lisa Bratcher said five military flags will be on display Monday, and chairs will be lined up in front of the chapel for people attending the event.

Murray said city officials plan to make the Memorial Day tribute an annual event.

"We are going to strive for that," he said.

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