By Jeanie Groh

jeanie.groh@salisburypost.com

Local Boy Scouts and Junior ROTC cadets placed flags at the graves of veterans at the Salisbury Historic Cemetery and the Annex Saturday, and the Veteran’s Council will celebrate those veterans and their contributions to the United States Monday.

The Rowan County Veterans Council will host its annual Memorial Day Tribute Monday at the Salisbury Veterans Affairs National Cemetery.

“It’s an honor for us as veterans to honor our fallen,” said David Hand, president of the Rowan County Veterans Council.

Those in attendance will celebrate through music, poetry and reflection.

This year, the keynote speaker will be retired United States Marine Corps Captain Jon Field.

Field, a Stanley County resident, joined the Marines in July 1969 and served until his retirement in 1990.

East Rowan High School’s JROTC will post the colors, Mayor Pro Tem Maggie Blackwell will present a proclamation, the Rowan County Honor Guard will fire a volley and a memorial wreath will be placed in the cemetery.

Hand said there are typically between 350 and 500 people in attendance.

“I feel honored to be part of it,” he added.

The celebration will be held Monday at 10 a.m. at the Salisbury Veterans Affair Medical Center National Cemetery, 1601 Brenner Ave. in Salisbury. Attendees should bring their own chairs.

In case of inclement weather, the event will be held at Salisbury Veterans Affairs Medical Center at Building 6.

For more information, call 704-232-0021.

The following local Memorial Day events are also taking place:

 ​J.C. Price Post’s Everlasting Services at 11 a.m., Sunday, May 31. Memorial services for departed veterans held at  Mt. Tabor Presbyterian Church in Cleveland.

A Memorial Day Ceremony will be held at 11:30 am on Monday at Veterans Park in downtown Kannapolis. The ceremony is hosted by the Beaver-Pittman American Legion Post 115 and will begin with a Parade of Veterans. The parade will begin at the corner of Laureate Way and Main Street and end at Veterans Park.

Maj. Charles W. White, U.S. Army chaplain with the North Carolina National Guard, the Cabarrus County Honor Guard, Bagpipe and Drums, Members of the Beaver-Pittman American Legion Post, the Kannapolis Historical Committee, the Rowan County Honor Guard, members of the Kannapolis Police and Fire Departments and others will pay tribute to those who have served in the armed forces.  Norris Dearmon, with the Kannapolis Historical Committee, will be the featured guest speaker for the ceremony.

The public is invited to attend.

Landis American Legion Post 146 will host the Post Family Day from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Memorial Day.

Post 146 will also observe the National Moment of Remembrance at 3 p.m. with the history of Memorial Day and the playing of Taps. The community and all veterans are invited to join at 3 p.m. to honor those Americans who died while defending the nation and to those veterans who have passed this past year from all eras of conflict.

For more information contact Martha Corriher, 704-798-3625 , or Tim Nason, 704-637-3718.