Community Corner

Memorial Day Ceremonies To Honor America's Fallen Heroes

There are a variety of Memorial day ceremonies in and around South County.

Several events this weekend will serve as a reminder to all the sacrifices that have been made by America's heroes in the nation's wars.

Thousand of Boy Scouts will fan out among the grave markers at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, 2900 Sheridan Rd., South County, to place small American flags on the graves of the military men and women buried there.

Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts and Venture Scouts will perform its annual Memorial Day Good Turn Sunday starting with a ceremony to honor deceased military members at 1 p.m. The keynote speaker for the event will be U.S. Army Major Sean Brown.

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There also will be an elaborate Memorial Day (May 28) ceremony in at the Heroes Memorial in . Participants include Boy Scout Troop 778, who will play Taps and post the colors, and American Legion Post 400. Speakers will include Fenton Mayor Dennis Hancock, Life Church Pastor Matt Heck and the main speaker, John Comerford, chairman of the Missouri Veteran's Commission.

Included in the ceremony will be a Memorial brick dedication to honor Carlo J. Condellire who served as a Fenton alderman from 1973 to 1980 and was the city's first park board chairman. He also was a life member of American Legion Post 400 and the VFW. He died Apr. 12, 2012.

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The Sappington-Concord Historical Society will host what it calls "the biggest, little annual Memorial Day celebration in South County at 10 a.m. on Monday The eventwill be at  Memorial Park, a small, grassy area across from Johnny’s Market that is bordered by Gravois, Denny and Sappington roads.

Members of the Spirit of St. Louis Marching Band will kick off the celebration with several patriotic selections. CW5 Randy Ottinger (Ret.), a veteran helicopter pilot who served in Iraq, will be master of ceremonies. The event also features Rear Adm. Charles A. Williams SC USN (Ret.), and a tribute to prisoners of war and soldiers missing in action by Master MSgt. Gary Cooper, USAF (Ret.) and Bob Pieper.

The ceremony is open to the public and spectators are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs. Parking will be available in the rear lot of Johnny's Market as wewll as on the lot next to the market.

Following the ceremony, there will be a reception in the auditorium of St. Lucas United Church of Christ, 11735 Denny Rd. There will be books for sale and light refreshments.

Those who would rather participate in a Memorial Day observance rather then just watch might want to take a ride in the 2nd Annual Faces of Freedom Ride Around St. Louis.  The 70-mile journey begins at 9 a.m. at the Texas Roadhouse Restaurant at Interstate 44 and Lindbergh Boulevard and makes a loop around the St. Louis city and county area before returning to in High Ridge where the activities will continue with mouse races, roulette, Texas Hold'em, music, food and beer. Although most of the Faces of Freedom riders will be on motorcycles, any type of vehicle is acceptable to participate.  For more information, contact 314-769-2068 or 636-223-0392.

The Face of Freedom group is a non-profit organization dedicated to building a national monument honoring the fallen soldiers of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars and for those who have sacrificed their lives for freedom.


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