Schroeder to keynote 44th Memorial Day ceremonies

Daily Reporter Staff

Maj. Neil Schroeder will be the keynote speaker at this year's Memorial Day ceremony at Riverside Cemetery in Spencer.

The graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. is a trained computer and information officer and has assisted on several operations, including Operation Allied Force, Operation Southern Watch and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Schroeder recently recieved his master's degree in Information Systems Management from the Air Force Institute of Technology at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio. He is currently assigned to the U.S. Strategic Command at Offutt Air Force Base just outside of Omaha. Schroeder lives in Glenwood with his wife, Christine, and three children: Anderson, Jackson and Ava.

Rev. Bruce Brooks of the Ninth Street Baptist Church will give the invocation and benediction during the Memorial Day ceremony, which is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m at Riverside Cemetery. The Spencer High School band will present the National Anthem along with another musical selection under the direction of Kurt Schwarck.

Twenty new flags will be dedicated in honor of: Nick Udorvich, World War II; Albert Fred Johnson, World War II; Robert G. Clark, World War II; Randall R. Guerttman, U.S. Navy; Donald Steffen, World War II; Axel S. Kimblad, World War II; Donna Dee Blessing, U.S. Navy; Marvin D. Kehoe, U.S. Army; Ashford Dowden Williamson, World War II; George Talmadge Williamson, World War II; Gail Meredith "Pete" Peterson, World War II; Leland G. Hagerty, World War II; Donald D. Momsen, U.S. Army; Gerald Joseph Higgins, Vietnam; Warren H. Bohnenkamp, World War II; Arthur D. Bates, Korea; Wendell G. Mortensen, World War II; Wilbur "Willie" Hebbel, World War II; Carl Edward Jensen, World War II; and Larry Eldon McKeever, U.S. Army.

In the event of rain, Monday's ceremony will be held at the Spencer High School Fieldhouse.