NPHS grad is Memorial Day Speaker

New Prague High School graduate Dr. Todd Morris, who has served with the U.S. Naval Reserve, will be the featured speaker at this year’s Memorial Day observance in New Prague Monday, May 27.

The traditional Memorial Day observance includes cemetery visits, a parade and a program at Memorial Park.

Morris, a 1979 New Prague High School graduate, is the son of Jim and Janet Morris of New Prague. He served with the U.S. Naval Reserves in Iraq and practices in the Twin Cities.

Cemetery visits The city’s traditional Memorial Day Observance will begin with visits by the New Prague Veterans Honor Guard to various cemeteries. The group will gather at 8:15 a.m. at the Park Ballroom clubroom and leave at 8:45 a.m. for ceremonies at local cemeteries.

The schedule: • 9 a.m. St. Patrick’s

• 9:35 a.m. St. Benedict

• 9:55 a.m. Lanesburgh

• 10:15 a.m. Union Hill

• 10:30 a.m. Czech National

• 10:45 a.m. St. Wenceslaus

At each cemetery, a brief service will be held, including the reading of a list of veterans in the cemetery.

Parade New Prague’s Memorial Day Parade will begin at 11 a.m. New Prague American Legion Past Commander George Tupy will provide a float for veterans and others wishing to take part in the parade, but unable to travel the route. Those wanting to ride the float should meet in front of the Park Ballroom clubroom at 10 a.m. It will then join those participating in the parade at St. Wenceslaus at about 11 a.m. The meeting site has changed due to construction near the usual starting spot at the New Prague City Hall.

Other parade participants include the Honor Guard, the Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts and the New Prague High School Band.

The parade will go south on Columbus Avenue to Main Street, turn east on Main to Lincoln Avenue, then proceed south, ending at the New Prague Veterans Memorial in Memorial Park.

Program At 11:30 a.m. is the annual program in the park. Pastor Steve Trewartha of Faith- Point Lutheran Church will give the invocation. The address from Morris will follow.

After the address, a list of names of deceased military veterans buried elsewhere will be read by leaders from George Tupy, past commander of the American Legion and Nick Slavik, commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars post. A wreath will be laid at the Veterans Memorial. A rifle salute from the Honor Guard and the playing of "Taps" will conclude the ceremony.

In case of inclement weather, the program will be held at the Park Ballroom.