Copperas Cove VFW, Veterans cemetery to host Memorial Day events
By LYNETTE SOWELL
Cove Leader-Press
The Olan Forest Smith VFW Post 8577 in Copperas Cove invites the community to join them on Monday, May 29, for the post’s annual Memorial Day ceremony at the Copperas Cove city cemetery, beginning at 10 a.m.
Local Boy Scouts will be placing flags on the grave of every veteran in the park, prior to the ceremony, which will be held at the cemetery pavilion.
In addition to the post’s Memorial Day observation, the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery, located at 11463 State Highway 195, will be open for 24 hours a day, starting on Friday, May 26 through Monday, May 29.
The “Avenue of Flags” will be lit throughout the night as well as the headstones of those killed or missing in action who are interred at the cemetery.
The public is invited to drive through the cemetery after dark and honor those who gave their lives fighting for our country.
On Memorial Day, the cemetery will be the site of a program which starts at 10 a.m., with keynote speaker John Paylor, remarks by Lt. Gen. Sean C. Bernabe, Cdr. III Corps and Ft. Cavazos, with laying of wreaths at 10:45 and a 21-gun salute.
In addition to these observations, Memorial Day weekend visits for families who have relatives buried in cemeteries within the Fort Cavazos live-fire training areas are between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., Sunday, May 28.
Families may visit the cemeteries between these hours without area access clearance.
No vehicle pass is required for the cemetery visits unless accessing the installation through the gates. Non-DOD identification card holders must obtain a pass from the visitors’ center located on T.J. Mills Blvd. prior to coming on post.
Range operations will have guides available to assist families and monitor cemetery visits to ensure that all visitors are clear of the live-fire training areas by 7 p.m.
Signs will be posted along roads giving directions to the cemeteries. Roads which may be used are: East Range Road, Hubbard Road, West Range Road and Owl Creek Road.
For more information, contact Mike Smith at the range control operations office, (254) 553-1943 and (254) 291-2363 or email michael.j.smith447.civ@army.mil.