May 31, 2022 4:00 a.m.

For the first time since the pandemic began, an in-person Memorial Day service open to the community was held at the Roseburg VA on Monday.

Around 100 residents turned out to honor those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in one of the many military conflicts over the history of the United States.

Larry Hill, past-president of the Douglas County Veteran’s Forum hosted the event. Hill acknowledged a few glitches in the service and commented, “It’s been three-years since we have gotten to do this”. The event was held in the newer section of the VA National Cemetery. Flags were on every grave at both the original location on West Harvard Avenue and at the more recent facility located on the Roseburg VA campus. This was thanks to several classes of students at nearby Fir Grove Elementary, who have placed the flags ahead of Memorial Day for well over thirty-five years.

Douglas County Veteran Services Director Mary Newman-Keyes led the singing of the National Anthem, read a list of Douglas County casualties in America’s wars and was the featured speaker. Jim Little read the classic poem “In Flanders Fields”.

The playing of the bagpipes from Military Honors by the Pipes closed the service which wrapped up about five minutes before U.S. Air Force fighter jets from Kingsley Field in Klamath Falls performed a fly-over above the cemetery.

Pictures from the service are posted at www.541radio.com and on the KQEN Facebook page.