Bill Shirley, retired Army command sergeant major and former Iola mayor, will be the featured speaker at Memorial Day services Monday, starting at 11 a.m. in the veterans burial section of Highland Cemetery.
Shirley was an educator after retirement from the Army. He taught and then served as principal at Iola Middle and McKinley Elementary schools. He continues to teach history at Allen Community College.
Services will be conducted by Leslie J. Campbell Post 15 American Legion, as well as its auxiliary and Sons of the Legion; Webster S. Bennett Post 1225 Veterans of Foreign Wars; 40 et 8, Voiture No. 335, and La Societe de Femme. Assisting will be Moran American Legion and LaHarpe VFW firing squad and the Legion Riders.
The Iola Municipal Band also will have a role, playing the national anthem to start the event and conclude it with “America the Beautiful.”
Members of Boy Scout Troop No. 55 will display flags at veterans’ graves prior to services. Pastor Bill LaPorte, Moran, will give the invocation.
Pomp & circumstance on display Monday
