American Legion Post 543 Memorial Day Ceremony May 27th

American Legion Post 543 Memorial Day Ceremony

The St James American Legion Post 543 will be holding its traditional solem Memorial Day Ceremony starting at 11:00 AM on Monday, May the 27^th.  Veterans from Post 543 will host a ceremony marking Memorial Day 2024 inside the St James Community Center. Highlights will include Presentation of the Colors, singing of the National Anthem along with other patriotic songs, and honoring local Gold Star families. Amazing Grace will be played on the bagpipes.  A memorial wreath will be placed at the Veterans Memorial followed by the playing of Taps by the Post bugler.

The guest speaker will be USMC Colonel (Ret.) Charles Dallachie. Colonel Dallachie served in the U.S. Marine Corps for 29 years.  As a 1^st Lieutenant, Chuck was stationed at the Marine Barracks at the Beirut Airport in Lebanon on 23 October 1983 when terrorists bombed the barracks killing 241 U.S. Service Members. Some of his other memorable assignments included Operations Officer for a Marine Logistics Group during Operation Desert Storm 1990-91, Commanding Officer of a Marine Logistics Group providing humanitarian support following the December 2004 tsunami in Indonesia,  and serving at the Pentagon during the attack on 9/11. Retiring from the Marine Corps in 2009, his final assignment was Commanding Officer, Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia.

This Memorial Day event is free and open to the public. All are encouraged to attend and join the Veterans of Post 543 in remembering those who loved our country enough to pay the ultimate sacrifice in the defense of freedom. Rem ember: America is the “Home of Free Because of the Brave!”