Memorial Day

Another rainy day.  This is the Memorial Day Service at Tripolis Church in Kandiyohi, MN.  I have a number of ancestors buried here on both my mother and father's side.  The tradition at this ceremony was unique, I thought. Ancestors of those buried in the cemetery who served in the US Armed Forces stand by the graves of their ancestor.  As the names of all servicemen and women are read and if someone is there to represent the family they holler out "here" or something similar.  Then there is a rifle salute and Taps is played.  These men are members of the Willmar American Legion or VFW.  Groups like this travel around to all of the cemeteries and repeat this process throughout the morning.