photo by: Mike Yoder

From left Lani Rothwell, her grandson, Zander Duran, and Timothy Rothwell, Lawrence, lay flowers at the gravestone of Timothy's father, WWII veteran Wilbur Rothwell, before a VFW Memorial Day ceremony Monday, May 30, 2011 at Memorial Park Cemetery.

Lawrence cemeteries and veterans’ organizations have a number of activities planned for the Memorial Day weekend.

In Lawrence, Oak Hill Cemetery, 1605 Oak Hill Ave., Maple Grove Cemetery at the intersection of U.S. Highways 24 and 40, and Memorial Park Cemetery, 1517 E. 15th St., will be open to visitors from dusk to dawn during the holiday weekend. Lawrence Parks and Recreation staff will be available to answer questions at Memorial Park Cemetery from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sunday and Monday. The city’s online searchable cemetery map can be found at gis.lawrenceks.org/flexviewers/cemetery. A video with instructions of how to use the map to find plots and burial information can be found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFyTeFh1_is&feature=youtu.be.

Both the Lawrence American Legion Dorsey-Liberty Post 14 and VFW Alford-Clarke Post 852 will help with the weekend placement of flags on veterans’ graves at Lawrence cemeteries.

In addition, the American Legion will have a Memorial Day ceremony at 10 a.m. Monday at Oak Hill Cemetery. Observations will include music from a bagpipe and drum corps, a plane flyover with the release of red, white and blue smoke courtesy of Warren-McElwain Mortuary, a bell ringing in memory of post members who died in the past 12 months, a salute to the branches of the U.S. Armed Forces and comments on the 150-year anniversary of Memorial Day — or Decoration Day, as it was originally known — by retired U.S. Army Lt. Colonel and Post Commander Alan Van Loenen.

After the ceremony, the post will serve a light lunch of hot dogs, chips and drinks provided from a contribution from Warren-McElwain and cookies proved by the local chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

In the event of rain, the ceremony will be at the American Legion Post, 3408 W. Sixth St.

The VFW’s Memorial Day ceremony will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the post, 1801 Massachusetts St. Post Commander Brooklynne Mosley said the observation would include a 21-gun salute, a guest speaker and reflections on the service and sacrifices of past and present members of the Armed Forces. A light lunch will follow the ceremony, Mosley said.

Baldwin City American Legion Lloyd Benton Post 228 will have its annual Memorial Day celebration at 10 a.m. Monday at Oakwood Cemetery in Baldwin City.

The observance will include short speeches from veterans, the traditional bell ringing in memory of departed veterans and a 21-gun salute. In the event of rain, the observance will be moved to the American Legion Post, 803 High St.

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