Every year the members and volunteers of the Elgin Patriotic Memorial Association (EPMA) plan for several months, the events of Memorial Day in Elgin, IL. Memorial Day in Elgin consists of 4 events at 4 different locations, all on the same day. Their flagship event takes place at historic Bluff City Cemetery.

This year, City Councilman Anthony Ortiz spearheaded the addition of the 'Remembering our Fallen' tribute towers to the cemetery, which honors veterans who have lost their lives in the War on Terror since 9/11.

Lining the streets of the cemetery are American flags, each one dedicated to a specific veteran from Elgin who has since died. Putting up these flags takes days and requires dozens of volunteers.

Next to every veteran grave sits an additional flag, put there by the volunteers of EMPA, as part of the Adopt a Cemetery program. A huge undertaking as Bluff City Cemetery is 108 acres.

Each of these incredible displays really puts into perspective the true meaning of Memorial Day.

Events in Elgin:

8:30am - Mt. Hope Cemetery (Catholic Mass)
9:00am - Lakewood Memorial Park
9:40am - Veterans Memorial Park
11:00am - Bluff City Cemetery

Find more information: https://www.elginmemorialday.org/2017-memorial-day-events

Sam J. Olson is a non-member volunteer of the Elgin Patriotic Memorial Association, capturing the event for 10 years. The full event will be available on the River Bluff Studios YouTube Channel in the afternoon of Memorial Day.

https://riverbluff.studio/