During Memorial Day services May 31, 2021, Americans remembered members of the military killed during wartime and other loved ones who have died.
See photos from a past year of the Czech National Cemetery Memorial Day Service
In Cedar Rapids, Iowa, some of those events included a service and free tours of exhibitions at the Veterans Memorial Building; an outdoor Mass at St. John’s Cemetery in southeast Cedar Rapids, featuring the playing of “Taps” by Prairie High School trumpet player James Neal; and tours by Cedar Rapids historian Mark Stoffer Hunter in the Chapel of Memories Mausoleum at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery in northeast Cedar Rapids.
Cedar Memorial and St. John’s were among many cemeteries devastated by Iowa’s August 2020 hurricane-strength derecho, and while some cemeteries are recovering, others do not have the resources to repair headstones and finish clearing and replanting trees. Iowans can check with area cemeteries to see what type of help is needed. Many have started recovery funds.
More: Iowa cemeteries remain capsized after derecho
Fortunately, after many Memorial Day services were suspended in 2020 due to the pandemic, pleasant weather greeted Iowans for the return to in-person events.
Related: Traditional flower of Memorial Day flourishes on Iowa farm
See more photos from Memorial Day 2021, below. (photos © Cindy Hadish/Homegrown Iowan)
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