NEWS

Where to find Memorial Day events in Eugene and Springfield

Louis Krauss
Register-Guard

Several Memorial Day events are set for Monday in Lane County, where all are welcome to attend and pay respects to those who died while serving in the military.

Pioneer Cemetery, Eugene

There will be a formal Memorial Day observance at 11 a.m. Monday at the Eugene Pioneer Cemetery, 1001 E. 18th Ave., northwest of the intersection with University Street and adjacent to University of Oregon campus. The event is hosted by American Legion Post No. 3 in Eugene and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 293. The observance will include performances from the Shasta Middle School's band and choir, the Eugene-Springfield Fire Department bagpipe band, and participation from Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, and local scout organizations. Information: James K. Walsh at 541-484-6630.

What's closed?:Memorial Day closures in Lane County

Willamalane Park, Springfield

The 73rd annual Memorial Day ceremony at Willamalane Park, hosted by American Legion Post 40, is set to start at 9 a.m. Monday at the Veterans Memorial Plaza at 998 Mohawk Blvd. in Springfield, across the street from McKenzie Willamette Hospital. Chairs will be provided.

Speakers include: Springfield Mayor Sean Van Gordon, Police Chief Andrew Shearer, the Willamette Leadership Academy, the Elks 2145/Emblem Club, Frank Blair from Disabled American Veterans, bugler Tom Schwetz, Scout Troop 179, Eagle Scout/West Point candidate Orion Van Buskirk, and Chaplain Chris Rhoades from Grace Baptist Church. The Facebook event page is at facebook.com/events/555414186213234.

VFW Post member Roger Piper places flags on the gravesite of a veteran at Springfield Memorial Gardens in advance of Memorial Day in 2020. Piper, a Korean War veteran, has been helping place the flags for more than 20 years.

Luper Pioneer Cemetery, north of Eugene

Luper Pioneer Cemetery will have its vehicle gate open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday through Monday, so anyone can walk the grounds and take a self-guided tour of the historic site. The cemetery entrance is on West Beacon Drive, in between River Road and Prairie Road.

About 1,000 pioneers arrived in the Willamette Valley in November 1853 by way of the Oregon Trail cutoff across central Oregon “to farm the fertile soil of the Willamette Valley, between the Cascade Mountains and the Coast Range,” according to the McClure wagon train by-laws. Some of those pioneers are buried at the cemetery.

On Saturday and Sunday there will be information for completing the self-guided tour of the cemetery, including interpretive signs describing the 18 people who are interred at the cemetery. On Memorial Day there will be additional information displayed about the people who arrived in 1853 by wagon. The band Poodle Creek Pickers will be performing music at the site from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Louis Krauss covers breaking news for The Register-Guard. Contact him at lkrauss@registerguard.com, and follow him on Twitter @LouisKraussNews.