Elem-Welsh cemetery, about three miles northwest of Cleveland in Ottawa Township, was the site of this year’s Memorial Day service.
Keynote speaker Cleveland American Legion Post member Andy Queen’s address was about the cemetery itself. It was the site of a church built in 1860 by the first group of Welsh in Le Sueur County.
Members of the group arrived from Ohio in 1953 and formed a settlement three years later. The churchyard, still active, became the burial ground for many of the original Welsh pioneers.
But one of them especially deserved to be remembered on Memorial Day, Queen said: Civil War veteran Lt. John Roberts, who was wounded on December 14, 1864 during the Battle of Nashville and died three weeks later.
Robert’s fellow soldiers pooled their money to bring his remains back home, a difficult task because there were scarcely any trains in Minnesota, and roads were hard to travel on. Elm Welsh cemetery became his final resting place even before Memorial Day came into being.
Also during the Memorial Day program, Queen led the Pledge of Allegiance. Legion chaplain Eric Hansen gave the invocation and benediction. Queen honored the deceased.
Placing the memorial wreaths were Queen, representing Legion Post 207, Judy Hahn, representing Auxiliary Unit 207 and Greg Davis representing the Sons of the American Legion 207. The firing squad saluted the dead.
The Legion family color guard posted and retired the colors.
Directed by Erik Hermanson, the Junior High Select Band (above) provided music. Freshman grader August Keltgen played taps.
Representing the Sons of the American Legion 207, Greg Davis placed a memorial wreath.
Freshman August Keltgen, who plays taps at Legion ceremonies, received a certificate of participation from the Cleveland Legion.
Andy Queen presented the address.
Color guard members
Color guard members
Firing squad
Sixth grader Parker Stoffel was distributing paper veteran-made poppies, a symbol of Memorial Day.