BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- The City of Bloomfield will be filled with patriotic observances in celebration of Memorial Day next Monday.
Two separate functions will take place on May 28, 2012.
The first event will begin at 11 a.m. on the south side of the Stoddard County Courthouse.
Ron Acord, commandant of Marine Corps League at Cape Girardeau, will be the key speaker for the day as he gives an address regarding the importance of recognizing veterans and remembering their sacrifices.
Jack Gillis will be the Master of Ceremonies.
The choir from Bloomfield First General Baptist Church will provide the day's music and Dana Tessons will perform T.A.P.S.
A team of four veterans representing the Army, Navy, Marines and Air Force will place the wreath on the Stoddard County War Memorial monument.
The Stoddard County Veteran's Honor Guard will perform the firing volley at the end of the ceremony.
The Dexter Boy Scouts and Bloomfield Cub Scouts will post and retire the colors for the event.
Numerous organizations in the county will be represented through their members, including the Puxico VFW, American Legion (Dexter and Bloomfield) and the Dexter chapter of Disabled American Veterans.
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Shortly following the courthouse ceremony, another will begin at the Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield.
Slated to begin at noon, Director Kenneth G. Swearengin will be the master of ceremonies.
The keynote speaker for the ceremony will be James S. "Stan" Baughn, the director of the Missouri Veterans Commission Cemetery Program.
Baughn has been with the Missouri Veterans Commission for 14 years. He started with the Commission as a Veterans Service Officer in the Poplar Bluff office.
He has served in numerous positions with the Commission, including Veterans Service Supervisor of the Southeast Region, Benefits Awareness Program Director, Veterans Service Program Director, and is currently Director of the Cemetery Program.
Baughn is a veteran of the United States Air Force with 15 Years of service. He has a Bachelor of Science degree from Southeast Missouri State University and a Master of Public Administration degree from Troy State University.
He has been married to his wife Debra for 34 years and has one son, James.
The cemetery ceremony will feature a POW/MIA Table Ceremony narrated by Gary Kitchen, SFC USA ret.
The Stoddard County Veteran's Honor Guard will perform the firing volley at this ceremony as well.
Patrons wishing to come to either ceremony on Monday are encouraged to dress cool because of the anticipated high temperatures.