The Ames Patriotic Council invites everyone to participate in honoring veterans this Memorial Day.

The Memorial Day parade will start at 10:30 a.m. from City Hall, 5th Street and Clark Avenue, proceed north along Clark Avenue and then east along 9th Street to the Ames Municipal Cemetery. Marine 1st Sergeant Brandon S. Eckardt will be the parade marshal.

At the cemetery, Eckardt will also be the main speaker for the program, which will begin at 11:00 a.m. Eckardt, a native of Atlanta, joined the military in July 1990 and has served overseas in many countries, including Korea, Thailand, Somalia, Iraq, Haiti, East Timor and Yemen. He is currently serving in Des Moines as Inspector/Instructor 1st Sergeant of E Company, 2nd Battalion, 24th Marines.

The Ames Municipal Band, under the direction of Michael Golemo, will play patriotic music. Jim DeHoet will sing. A fly-over is scheduled by the Iowa Air National Guard.

American Legion Post 37 will host a lunch afterward at the Legion Post, 225 Main St. Later, a salute will be given at 1:15 p.m. at the Ontario Cemetery, and at 1:45 p.m. at the Story Memorial Gardens.

Anyone, especially any veteran, wishing to walk in the parade is welcome. Parade participants should gather at 10 a.m. in the parking lot on the west side of City Hall. Volunteers are still needed to help staff barricades along the parade route from 10 – 11:00 a.m. Anyone wishing to help may call Charlie Clatt at 232-3938. In case of rain, the parade will be canceled and the program will move indoors at 11:30 a.m. to the Municipal Auditorium.

The public is encouraged to participate to honor all those who have served and who continue to serve our country.

—Herman Quirmbach is a member of the Ames Patriotic Council and a senator in the Iowa Legislature.