Cedar Rapids Memorial Day Service 2026
The Cedar Rapids Metro Veterans Council's Time to Remember Area Veterans.
The Cedar Rapids Metro Veterans Council hosted their annual Memorial Day Service at 10:30AM in the Veterans Memorial building in downtown Cedar Rapids on Monday May 25th. The event featured several speakers from the Cedar Rapids area including The Metro Veterans Council’s Vice President Dick Hogan, Rich Hunt, Police Chaplain Ken Glandorf, Cedar Rapids Mayor Tiffany O’Donnell, and retired U.S. Army veteran Scott Droessler. The event also featured performances from the New Horizons band of Cedar Rapids, the Twenty First Century Vocals, and Bagpiper Greg Francisco.
A model of one of Ace Col. Clarence Emil “Bud “Anderson’s three P-51 Mustangs owned by local historian David Wendell sits on display at the entrance to the Veterans Memorial building. Anderson served in the United States Army Air Force from 1942 until the Air Force became independent from the United States Army in 1947. He then served in the United States Air Force from 1947 until 1972. During his time in the military Anderson fought in both WW2 and Vietnam.
The Metro Area Veterans Council’s Vice President, and American Legion 2nd district vice commander Dick Hogan introduces Mayor Tiffany O’Donnell during the Memorial Day service at Veterans Memorial building on Monday May 25th. The 2nd District is the largest American Legion district in the state of Iowa, and is composed of posts in Dubuque, Davenport, Maquoketa, Dyersville, Clinton, Bellevue, Marion, Walker, Donahue, Ely, Toddville, Blue Grass, Hiawatha, and Cedar Rapids.
Cedar Rapids Mayor (republican) Tiffany O’Donnell delivers the proclamation during the Memorial Day service in Downtown Cedar Rapids. O’Donnell is also the Chief Executive Officer at Women Lead Change which is the state of Iowa’s premier leadership organization for women. Women Lead Change has offices in the Quad Cities, Cedar Rapids, Cedar Falls/Waterloo, Des Moines, and Sioux Falls, SD.
Retired U.S. Army veteran Scott Droessler from Ely speaks to the crowd about his experiences in the military. Droessler spent 26 years in the Army and was a Senior Personnel Sargent when he retired.
Greg Francisco plays the bagpipes during the Memorial Day service at Veterans Memorial building on Monday May 25th. Francisco plays the Bagpipes at various events all over the state of Iowa.
Police Chaplain Ken Glandorf delivers the benediction before the retirement of the colors at the end of the Memorial Day Service in downtown Cedar Rapids on Monday May 25th. Glandorf joined the Marines at 17 years old, and turned 21 while serving a 13 month deployment in Vietnam.
Members of AMVETS Post 6 (located in Cedar Rapids) retrieve the colors during the retirement of the colors at the end of the Memorial Day service hosted by the Metro Veterans Council of Cedar Rapids. The Metro Area Veterans Council member organizations include American Legion Post 298, American Legion Post 727, American Legion Post 735, AMVETS Post 6, Marine Corps League Cedar Valley Detachment 099, Fleet Reserve Association, Forty et Eight Voiture 1305, Korean War Veterans Association Chapter 99, Linn County Veteran Services, Veterans of Foreign Wars post 788, Vietnam Vets Motor Club, and the 24th Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment.
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