Yoga Enterprise
Richmond mayor to chair Memorial Day ceremony – The Voice
There is a long tradition in Richmond of holding a Memorial Day service in the city center, and Mayor Tim Rix is keen to continue for years to come.
After being approached by members of James Coleman VFW Post 6802 in town, the Mayor agreed to schedule the event and serve as Master of Ceremonies on May 31, 2021.
“My father ran it for 50 years, so I was always there. And it’s not that difficult for me compared to other things I’m doing right now, ”Rix smiled.
The mayor shared his plans for the event at a recent city council meeting, noting that there will be a small parade from Washington Street near the Good Old Days barn on Beebe Street at 10 a.m. The organizers invite the community to get on their bikes or registered golf carts, patriotically decorated to celebrate Memorial Day, and take part in the parade.
The parade starts at 10 a.m. from Bailey Park on Washington Street and heads south to Main Street.
“This is not the tradition, but with COVID we felt that we should make a shorter parade length. It will be a lot safer. We’re going to visit our Veterans Park, which is between Maniacis Hall and the yoga shop, right in the municipal parking lot on Main Street, ”said Rix.
The city will close Main Street between Water Street and Monroe Streets for people to spread out. Rix said there will be a guest speaker for the ceremony and the Richmond VFW will provide a color watchdog and there are plans to invite the Richmond High School Band to perform as well.
“So we try to continue the tradition of commemorating those who gave their lives on May 31st, starting at 10 a.m. Hopefully you can all get out, ”said Rix.
Reminder of dad’s ministry
When contacted after the council meeting, Rix said he was excited to host the Memorial Day event as it was especially important to his late father, Leroy Rix.
Leroy Rix, a World War II Army veteran, had no chance of going overseas after contracting severe pneumonia after an over-enthusiastic drill sergeant forced his soldiers to stay outside in the rain and cold, said Tim Rix.
The experience took Leroy Rix to an army hospital for nine months, where he battled pneumonia that turned into rheumatic fever and a health problem that needed to be monitored for the rest of his life.
“My father always knew that he wasn’t serving like many others, so honoring her was very important to him,” said Rix. “He was the commander of the American Legion Post for many, many years, and my uncle was the commander of the VFW, so every year they worked together to hold a memorial service together.”
Rix said his father missed only one Memorial Day event in 50 years and it was the year he had to drive his other son Thomas Rix to Indianapolis when he was shipping to Vietnam.
The ceremony should be short and reserved
Bringing the Memorial Day ceremony back to town after being canceled due to the coronavirus last year is a step in the right direction despite the ongoing pandemic, Rix said.
He noted that in May 2020, a very small group went to two local cemeteries and a park that has a WWII memorial to the laying of wreaths. The VFW color monitor was also there and a 21 gun salute was carried out.
“It was a very private thing – it had to be because of COVID – but at least we did something,” said Rix.
This year’s plans will be scaled back and the location will allow social distancing for those who are worried about crowds. The parade route has also been significantly shortened.
“It was a long way from high school to the cemetery, a really long way for a bunch of people, so it should work for everyone,” said Rix. “And landing in Veteran’s Park is appropriate too.”
Inviting citizens to decorate their bikes in a patriotic way was actually something the city promoted on Memorial Day in the past. In his teens, Rix said the kids were all excited to have their bikes “spruced up” to ride along the parade route.
In fact, Memorial Day was the official opening day of the city’s Little League, and after the ceremonies the teams went to the local park to play their first games, he said.
Everyone is invited to attend the event, but the organizers do not invite local politicians.
“We don’t need politicians for that, we have a day for them in September,” said Rix.
Once everyone has arrived at the park, Rix said that a short ceremony will include a speech by the former pastor of the Lutheran Church of St. Peter Gerhardt Dorah.
“Pastor Dorah spoke on our Memorial Day 2019 and he does a great job honoring those who gave their lives,” said Rix.
The speech is followed by a 21-gun salute and the playing of “Taps”. In allusion to the pandemic, no refreshments will be served in the park this year.
Barb Pert Templeton is a freelance reporter. She can be contacted at [email protected].