The Daily Globe - Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties

By BRYAN HELLIOS

bhellios@yourdailyglobe.com

Ironwood - Music filled the Ironwood Memorial Building as members representing the United States armed forces prepared for Ironwood's Memorial Day ceremony on Monday.

A chorus sang "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" and "Blades of Grass and Pure White Stone" under the direction of Annette Burchell to help set the atmosphere before the placing of American Flags.

Lt. Col. Gary Harrington of the U.S. Air Force and master of ceremonies said the tradition of observing Memorial Day in Ironwood is more then 100 years old.

Speaking at Riverside Cemetery, Harrington told how in the past local historical societies and civic groups held services at both the post office corner and the cemetery to honor fallen soldiers. Musical programs, a banquet at the Curry Hotel, a campfires followed.

Organizers of these past events said the "day will be more generously observed in Ironwood then ever before," Harrington said.

On Monday, keeping with tradition, after a brief service in the Memorial Building, a parade made its way through Ironwood's streets. It stopped at a memorial near the post office at the corner of Ayer and Suffolk streets, before proceeding to the cemetery.

Right before entering the cemetery color guard members Dave Straind and Dave Rundquist jumped into action to help out one of their fellow comrades who was in need of medical attention. Jim Shea, another member of the honor guard, had fallen.

Harrington told the crowd at the cemetery, "Lets just hope 100 years from now Memorial Day will still be recognized as a special day, like we are recognizing it and over 100 years ago they recognized it. ... We continue to honor those who gave their all, for all of us and remember those today who are stationed far from home."