The Ames Patriotic Council will host their annual Memorial Day parade and ceremony Monday to honor the lives of those who have died in service to our country. 

The parade will begin at 10:30 a.m. at Ames City Hall and anyone, especially veterans, are welcomed to walk or ride in the parade. Participants should begin gathering at 10 a.m. on Fifth Street between Clark Avenue and Pearle Avenue or in the parking lot on the west side of the City Hall. The parade will proceed north on Clark Avenue and then east along Ninth Street to the Ames Municipal Cemetery for a ceremony. 

A Memorial Day program will begin at 11 a.m. with Army Lt. Col. Dan Runyon (retired) as the featured speaker, along with representatives from the city of Ames and American Legion Post No. 37. The program will also feature vocalist Jim DeHoet and the Ames Municipal Band under the direction of Michael Golemo. 

Featured speaker Runyon served either in the Iowa Army National Guard or the National Guard Bureau for his 33 years of military service. Runyon reflected on the importance of Memorial Day. 

“It’s an intentional chance to reflect on those we’ve lost, typically during wartime, but it [has] kind of expanded the scope into trauma, PTSD and suicide,” Runyon said. 

Runyon believes Memorial Day is a time that unites people despite their differences. 

“I think [Memorial Day] is a way for people to kind of come together to pay honor and respect to those who have kept the freedoms available for us as Americans for the last almost 250 years,” Runyon said. 

Runyon plans to give the audience information about his background and the lessons he learned in the army and provide them with a challenge. 

“What my challenge to the audience will be at the end is to try and bring people together through this day of remembrance,” Runyon said. 

After the completion of the program, American Legion Post No. 37 will provide a lunch at the post at 225 Main St. The event will also be livestreamed for those not able to attend in person at www.facebook.com/AmesPatrioticCouncil/events and www.AmesPatrioticCouncil.org. In the case of rain, the program will be moved to the City Hall Auditorium.