The Poplar Bluff Veterans Council will not host its usual Memorial Day event this year because of concerns with COVID-19.
Kaye Sparkman, with the Council and the American Legion, said the space they have at the Black River Coliseum isn’t large enough for that many people to social distance and conduct the event safely. The event takes place at the Veterans’ Wall outside the Coliseum.
Last year, several dozen people attended the event which honors those who served in the U.S. military.
The Council works with the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6477, American Legion Riders Post 494, Vietnam Veterans of America and the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center to put it on.
“As far as I know, nobody is doing anything on their own,” Sparkman said.
Sparkman said the idea of doing a pre-recorded ceremony online came up, but it went nowhere.
“We’re old school,” she said.
Last week, the state announced that events at all five Missouri State Veterans Cemeteries are canceled because of the virus — including Bloomfield. Flags will be lowered to half-staff.
The Missouri Veterans Commission will provide a video honoring veterans on its social media platforms instead of a traditional in-person ceremony.
Sparkman said the Council hopes to pick back up with its regular Veterans Day ceremony at the memorial wall in November.
Originally called Decoration Day, Memorial Day was established as a day for Americans to honor those who were killed during the Civil War. It was not until after World War I that Memorial Day was expanded to honor those who have died in all American wars. Memorial Day was declared a national holiday in 1971 and was placed on the last Monday in May.