Memorial Day events planned

Kim Dean
Managing Editor
 
 
The Newcastle Veteran of Foreign Wars Post No. 2516 and American Legion Post No. 3 will be teaming up for several special Memorial Day events. 
On Friday, May 28, at 11 a.m., Bucky Rawhouser, owner of Farnsworth Services, is hosting a grand flag-raising ceremony at his business located at 58 Fairgrounds Road. The public and all veterans are invited to attend the ceremony and stay for lunch and refreshments afterward. The American Legion Riders will bring the flags in on their motorcycles, Josie Smith will sing the National Anthem, and both the VFW and American Legion will take part in the flag ceremony.
“I’ve always wanted to have a flag pole at the shop ever since I bought Tom’s business,” explained Rawhouser, who said he didn’t intend for the idea and event to grow like it has. Rawhouser said every one of his employees contributed ideas and/or labor to bring the flag pole area to fruition. The large 20-x30-foot American flag will fly on a 90-foot pole, and LED lighting was also installed. He said two smaller flags, a Wyoming flag and a POW flag, will be placed on poles on either side of the main pole. The poles were made by the Farnsworth Services crew, and the flag area also has a concrete retaining wall area with plants.
“I wanted to have our veterans raise the flag for the first time,” said Rawhouser, who said he is looking forward to the upcoming event.
Another annual task that the local veteran groups team up for — and also need volunteer help from the community — is placing flags on veterans’ graves in Greenwood Cemetery in Newcastle. This will take place on Sunday,
May 30, at 1 p.m. Anyone who wishes to participate and help set the flags should be at the cemetery by 1 p.m. VFW Commander Stan Dixon said the groups are always grateful for any volunteer help. 
The weekend’s events will culminate with a Memorial Day celebration at Greenwood Cemetery on Monday, May 31. The event will start at 10 a.m. The VFW and American Legion posts invite all to the celebration and to show their support for our armed forces and veterans. Walter Sprague will sing the national anthem during the ceremony.