By Ed Shannon, staff writer

Memorial Day 2008 will be observed with special programs at area cemeteries with several parades, prayer services, speeches, special honors for deceased military veterans and family reunions and remembrances for deceased relatives and friends in Albert Lea and nearby communities.

This is a partial listing of the area observances on Monday.

Albert Lea

Memorial Day this year will be based on the traditional series of rituals in the morning with the addition this year of the Freeborn County Veterans Memorial.

Observances start at 7 a.m. at Lakewood Cemetery with graveside rites honoring Freemond Madson, namesake of Albert Lea&8217;s Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 447. This salute will be followed with graveside rites for Leo Carey, namesake of American Legion Post 56, at nearby St. Theodore&8217;s Cemetery at about 7:15 a.m. A special ceremony for veterans buried in Hillcrest Cemetery will be held about 7:40 a.m. This will be followed with a special salute to the veterans, living and deceased, now honored at the Freeborn County Veterans Memorial near the corner of South Broadway Avenue and East College Street.

A flag-raising ceremony and memorial service for those buried at sea will be held at 9 a.m. in Fountain Lake Park. A wreath will be cast into the water from the shore. Another wreath will be dropped into the lake from an aircraft, weather permitting. A volley fire by the American Legion color guard will be made and &8220;Taps&8221; will be played.

The annual Memorial Day Parade starts at the East Annex Parking Lot about 10:15 a.m. The route is east on Fountain Street to Broadway Avenue, south on Broadway past the Legion Hall to Clark Street, then west on Clark to Graceland Cemetery.

Gary Anderson, commander of American Legion post 56, said a special addition to the parade this year will be a caisson (early 1900 hearse) pulled by a team of horses with military pallbearers walking on each side.

The program at Graceland Cemetery will start at 11 a.m. This year&8217;s program is under the direction of Leo Carey Post 56 of the American Legion.

First Vice Commander Dave Mullenbach will be the master of ceremonies. The speaker will be First Lieutenant Randolph James Belden of Burnsville. He has served with the U.S. Marine Corps, the Iowa and California National Guard, served in

Afghanistan during 2004-2005, and is presently commander of the Special Troops Battalion of the 34th Infantry Division. Minnesota Army National Guard. Also on the program will be the Placing of the Wreaths by representatives of Albert Lea veterans organizations, plus Minnesota National Guard and Gold Star parents. The Careyaires will provide patriotic music for the Graceland Cemetery program.

Also, a 9 a.m. Memorial Day Mass will be held at St. Theodore&8217;s Catholic Cemetery and at 10:30 a.m. in St. James Catholic Cemetery, Twin Lakes. Those attending are asked to bring lawn chairs. In case of weather problems, a decision will be made and announced on KATE radio if the Masses are to be moved to the churches.

A luncheon will be held at the American Legion Club, 142 N. Broadway Ave., from 11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. This luncheon will feature scalloped potatoes, ham, buns, green beans and beverage for a free will donation.

Emmons

Members of American Legion Post 317, Emmons, will be making their traditional visits to seven nearby cemeteries on Monday morning. The group will assemble at the Legion clubrooms in Emmons at 8:30 a.m. and leave for the cemeteries at 8:45 a.m. The schedule is: Lime Creek Synod (Iowa), 9 a.m.; Lime Creek, 9:15 a.m.; Oak Lawn at Emmons, 9:30 a.m.; Silver Lake (Iowa), 9:50 a.m.; St. James Catholic, 10:45 a.m.; Brush Hill, I I a.m.; and Bear Lake at 11:15 a.m.

The Legion Auxiliary will hold a potluck lunch at the post clubroom in Emmons following these visits for Legionnaires and their families.

Oakland

A service will be held at noon on Monday at the Oakland Lutheran Cemetery, 220-42 850th Ave., Albert Lea. An honor guard will participate. A lunch, sponsored by the cemetery association, will be held at the church.

Myrtle

Memorial Day ceremonies will be held at the Bohemian National Cemetery north of Myrtle on County Road 30 at 11 a.m. A lunch will follow at the nearby Brick Hall.

The Myrtle Museum will be open from 12:30 to 3 p.m. on Monday.

New Richland

Starting at 8:30 a.m., an honor guard from Andrew Borgen American Legion Post 75 and area citizens will visit the following cemeteries: Calvary, St. Peter, St. Olaf, LeSueur, Vista Lutheran and Vista Covenant.

The program at the City Park starts at 11 a.m. Music will be furnished by the New Richland-Hartland/Ellendale-Geneva Middle School Band. In case of rain, the program will be held at the American Legion Clubrooms.

Ellendale

The Memorial Day program in Ellendale is scheduled to start at 11;15 a.m. at the First Lutheran Cemetery. The speaker will be Al Batt. Music is by the New Richland-Hartland/Ellendale-Geneva High School Band.

Alden

The honor guard squad from American Legion Post 404 will salute the deceased at Concordia-Pickerel Lake Cemetery at 8:30 a.m., Shady Oaks Cemetery at 8:45 a.m., Conger Cemetery at 9 a.m., followed by the Carlston Cemetery. The Memorial Day parade will form on the east side of the school building at 10 a.m. and proceed to the Alden Cemetery for the annual observance and program featuring Commander Lowell Grunzke. The Alden-Conger High School Band will participate in the parade and program.

A dinner will be held from 11:30 a.m. to I p.m. at the Alden-Conger School. In case of adverse weather, the Memorial Day program will be held in the Alden-Conger School building.

Glenville

A Memorial Day program in Glenville will start at 9:30 a.m. in Greenwood Cemetery.

A lunch will be held at First Lutheran Church, sponsored by the Greenwood Club of Glenville. Serving will start at I I a.m. The public is invited. Lunch tickets are $5 each for adults and children, ages 10 and under, are $1 each.

Hartland

The Memorial Day observances in Hartland to be held in the Social Hall of Cross of Glory Lutheran Church starting at 9 a.m. A parade from the bank to the church, led by members of the New Richland-Hartland/Ellendale-Geneva Middle School Band will start at 8:45 a.m. Larry Collins, a judge from Waseca, is scheduled to be the main speaker.

Hollandale

A 9 a.m. Memorial Day service will be held at the Hollandale Cemetery. The speakers will be Rev. Tim Diehl. In case of rain, the program will take place atthe Hollandale Christian Reformed Church.

Freeborn

A program conducted by members of Gilmore-Stensrud Post 552, American Legion, will be held in the Freeborn City and Township Hall at 11 a.m. Al Batt will be the speaker. Dinner is at the Freeborn Congregational United Church of Christ from 11:15 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Geneva

Memorial Day services at the Geneva Community Cemetery will start at 10:15 a.m. Music will be furnished by the New Richland-Hartland/Ellendale-Geneva High School Band. The speaker will be Al Batt. In case of bad weather, the program will be held in the Geneva Community Center.

Northwood, Iowa

Memorial Day ceremonies start at 11 a.m. at Sunset Rest Cemetery. The Rev, Barbara Wills is the featured speaker. Members of the

Northwood-Kensett Junior and Senior High School Bands will provide music.

A potluck dinner will be held at Our Buddies VFW Post 6779

home in Northwood.

Lake Mills, Iowa

The Memorial Day parade will start at Arlington Park and go to the Lake Mills Community High School.at 9:30 a.m. The 10 a.m. program is in the auditorium with Daniel Baldwin as speaker.

Kiester

Second District American Legion Commander Jim Ellis will be the guest speaker at the Memorial Day program starting at 11 a.m. at the United South Central Middle School Goerish Auditorium.

The Kiester American Legion Drill Squad will visit area cemeteries on Memorial Day. The schedule includes Trinity, 7:30 p.m.; Mansfield Township, 8:30 a.m.; Walters, 8:45 a.m.; Walters Country, 9:15 a.m.; and Rice Lake, 9:30 a.m.

A memorial service will take place in the Kiester City Park following the school program and a dinner will follow the park service.

Wells

The parade will form at 9 a.m. on Broadway near Baker&8217;s Choice Bakery and will move out at 9:30 a.m. going west to the community&8217;s two cemeteries on state Highway 109.

The program will start at 10 a.m. In case of rain, the program will take place in the United South Central High School Auditorium at 10 a.m.

Coffee and rolls will be served in the Wells American Legion Club and the public is invited. A luncheon will be served from 11:30 to 1:30 p.m. The cost is $5, and $3 for children 12 and under.