Volunteers are needed to place U.S. flags at the headstones of fallen service members at Rock Island National Cemetery on Arsenal Island in advance of its Memorial Day Ceremony.
Flag placement will begin at 4 p.m., Thursday, May 22, regardless of weather. Due to anticipated high traffic, volunteers should arrive early and report inside the cemetery.
In the event of severe weather, flag placement will take place at 4 p.m. Friday, May 23. More information is available by calling (309) 784-0000.
Hotdogs will be provided to participants after flag placement. Flag removal is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. Tuesday, May 27, weather permitting.
The Rock Island National Cemetery’s Memorial Day Ceremony will be at 10:45 a.m. Monday, May 26.
Main parking will be available at the Memorial Park parking lot off East Street, across from Building 110. Distinguished visitors and media will receive parking directions upon arrival at the cemetery grounds.
Col. William ‘Joe’ Parker, III, commander of U.S. Army Garrison Rock Island Arsenal, will be the ceremony’s keynote speaker. The Veterans Service Organization honor guard will be conducted by Davenport American Legion Post 26.
Musical selections will be performed by the QC Cordbusters and the Davenport Central High School Band. The national anthem will be sung by Ms. Carma Chavez, and an invocation will be given by Rev. Scott Culley of Faith Walk World Outreach Center. The ceremony also will include other speakers, a moment of silence, the playing of taps, and a rifle volley.
Parking at the cemetery will be limited to individuals using wheelchairs. All other attendees should park in the large lot behind Memorial Park. Buses will shuttle attendees from the parking lot to the cemetery between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Memorial Park is located off Rodman Avenue at the corner of East Street.
