Imperial, area towns planning Memorial Day programs

    Memorial Day programs are being planned this weekend in Imperial and several area communities.
    Imperial’s Mt. Hope Cemetery will be the site for a 10:30 a.m. service on Monday, said Eric Gonzales of the Imperial VFW Post 4688, which coordinates the annual program with its Auxiliary.
    Monday’s speaker will be Brian Hill of Denver, Colorado, a 1987 graduate of Chase County High School.
    Hill, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, has been a law enforcement officer for more than 20 years.  He is currently working for a law enforcement agency in the Denver metro area.
    He served in the Marines from 1987-1994, and earned the rank of Sergeant. He served in Operation Desert Storm during the Gulf War.
    Gonzales said the VFW Post and Auxiliary are looking for community volunteers to help place flags on all veteran graves at Mt. Hope Cemetery on Thursday starting at 5 p.m.
    Several other area communities are planning Memorial Day programs.
    Wauneta’s Legion Post 304, the Sons of American Legion and Wauneta VFW Post 7996 will combine forces for Memorial Day services Monday at three cemeteries.
    The first starts at 9 a.m. at Eden Cemetery, followed by a 9:30 a.m. service at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church Cemetery, ending with a 10:30 a.m. service at Wauneta’s Riverside Cemetery.
    Wauneta’s Legion Auxiliary will provide a Memorial Day dinner at the Wauneta Community Building from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., serving sloppy joes, hot dogs, salads, drinks and pie.
    There will also be a service in Venango on Monday at 10:30 a.m., at the Venango Cemetery with guest speaker, John Long of Grant. Coffee and cookies will be served afterwards.