The City of Carmel will hold its annual Memorial Day Ceremony to remember those who paid the ultimate price in service to our country. The ceremony will take place at 9 a.m. on Friday, May 25 at Carmel Clay Veterans Memorial Plaza, 800 3rd Ave. SW, across from the Center for the Performing Arts. In case of rain, the location will be the Tarkington Theater at the Center for the Performing Arts, 3 Center Green. The public is invited to attend.
The ceremony will begin with remarks by Douglas C. Haney, Corporation Counsel for the City of Carmel and a U.S. Army veteran, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by Clay Township Trustee Doug Callahan and members of Carmel Girl Scouts Troop No. 2662.
The keynote speaker will be Tom Gorup, Director of Security Operations for Rook Security. Prior to joining Rook, Gorup served six years in the U.S. Army. As an infantry Squad Leader, he served two tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, for which he received a Purple Heart along with several other awards for action on the battlefield.
Members of the local American Legion Post 155 and Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 1003 will conduct a flag raising ceremony and all attending will have the opportunity to place flowers at the Memorial. Patriotic music will be provided by Cynthia Ensign Baney; Smoky Row Orff Ensemble directed by Joshua Southard; Cherry Tree Choralaires directed by Anna Moody and accompanied by Linda Hutchins; and the Carmel Fire Department Pipes and Drums with the Indianapolis Public Safety Pipe Band. The ceremony will end with a 21-gun salute and Taps played by David Bechtel.
The Girls Scouts of Central Indiana will present a box of cookies to any Veterans attending the event as a thank you for their service to our country. Light refreshments will also be available, compliments of Kroger.
Please leave extra time due to construction season and detours in the area. For more information, please visit Carmelink.com.