Memorial Day events in and around Ames

9 a.m. – The annual Iowa State University Memorial Day ceremony will be held in the Reiman Ballroom at the ISU Alumni Center, 420 Beach Ave., Ames.

This observance honors all ISU employees, retirees and spouses who have died since Memorial Day 2011.

Parking is available in the Lot A2-3 on the east side of the ISU Alumni Center.

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10:30 a.m. – The annual Memorial Day parade and ceremony hosted by the Ames Patriotic Council

The council is dedicating the parade and celebration to those who have served in Iraq. Iraq veterans are encouraged to walk or ride in the parade and attend the ceremony.

Participants may gather at 10 a.m. in the parking lot on the west side of City Hall, Fifth Street and Clark Avenue. The parade route runs north along Clark and then east along Ninth Street to the Ames Municipal Cemetery.

The program at the cemetery will begin at 11 a.m. Iraq veteran Marine Major Sean T. Quinlan, who served as company commander for Company D, 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion in Western Al Anbar Province of Iraq in 2006-07, will speak. The Ames Municipal Band will play patriotic music with singing by Jim DeHoet. Harriet Sheldahl will give a patriotic reading. A prayer will be offered by Judy Hemstock.

A salute to the dead will be given at the Ontario Cemetery at 1:15 p.m. and at the Story Memorial Gardens at 1:30 p.m.

Volunteers are still needed to help staff barricades along the parade route from 10 to 11 a.m. Any volunteers can call Charlie Clatt at (515) 232-3938.

The parade will be cancelled if it rains, and the ceremony would move to the Ames Municipal Auditorium at 11 a.m.