CARMEL – The unofficial beginning of summer—Memorial Day—has arrived and officials on the state, county, town and village levels are encouraging residents to take time and attend a Memorial Day observance.
In Putnam County, ceremonies begin this evening when the Putnam Joint Veterans Council conducts the John Morris Watchfire Vigil throughout the weekend from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Friday’s opening ceremony begins at 7 p.m.
Veterans will stand guard at the Putnam Veterans Memorial Park and retire American flags in a large burning barrel throughout the weekend.
Nineteen years ago, on the eve of Memorial Day, vandals – under the cloak of darkness – entered the park and spray painted the veteran’s monument in one of the county’s most despicable and disgraceful acts of vandalism ever recorded. The veterans’ community rallied that day and the paint was removed in time for Memorial Day services.
Since then, beginning on Friday and continuing throughout every Memorial Day weekend, groups of veterans will be joined by members of scout troops from across the county to relate stories while patrolling the park throughout the night.
On Sunday, traditional services will take place at the Lake Carmel Veterans Monument at 9:30 a.m. followed at 11 a.m. with a ceremony at the Carmel Veterans Hall on Gleneida Avenue in the county seat.
Numerous ceremonies are planned for Monday, Memorial Day, as well.
The highlight of the day will take place in Putnam Lake at 10 a.m. when a pair of monuments will be unveiled at the intersection of Fairfield Drive and Haviland Drive.
One of the monuments will be dedicated to those who served in the Gulf War and the second to veterans serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. These are the first such monuments in Putnam County.
