Memorial Day ceremony set in Sisters

The 10th Annual Veterans Memorial Day Ceremony will be held at Camp Polk Cemetery on Monday, May 27.

Sisters American Legion Post 86 and Sisters Veterans of Foreign War Post 8138 will be conducting the ceremony.

Assembly will be sounded at 11 a.m. followed by the Call to Colors, Pledge of Allegiance and the National Anthem.

This year there is no parking available at the cemetery. There will be free shuttle bus service beginning at 9:30 a.m. from the Sisters Elementary School parking lot.

Attendees should plan plenty of time to catch a bus; the last shuttle will leave for the cemetery at 10:45 a.m.

The Invocation will be given by (Chaplain Colonel) Larry Harrelson who is also Pastor of Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration in Sisters.

George Winterfeld, Adjutant of Sisters American Legion Post 86, will be Master of Ceremonies.

Ed Beacham, owner and clockmaker of Beacham's Clock Company in Sisters, will be the keynote speaker.

"Blue Star" banners will be presented to two Sisters area mothers with children currently serving with the United States military.

Bill and Irene Peck, VFW Post 8186 and assistants will lay wreaths in memory of departed members.

The closing prayer will be given by Pastor Ron Griggs of the Three Sisters Fellowship.

Following the closing prayer, G Troop 82nd Cavalry, Oregon National Guard, will give a rifle salute and taps will be played by Jody Henderson.

This year's ceremony will carry special poignancy for local veterans.

Local veterans' activist Phil Chlopek died suddenly on May 9. Chlopek was the Commander of American Legion Post 86 and Past Commander of VFW Post 8186.

Chlopek started the Memorial Day ceremonies at Camp Polk Cemetery 10 years ago. Every year he was deeply involved in the project.

He also was heavily involved in the Veterans Group's winter wood project for needy families in the Sisters area. He built a large shed on his property where all the wood was chopped and stored.