Area communities on Monday will honor U.S. military men and women who have given their lives in service to their country.

Monday will be Litchfield’s 118th Memorial Day observation. Events begin at 8 a.m. with a prayer service at Calvary Cemetery.

A Memorial Day parade, featuring the American Legion Nelsan-Horton Post 104, VFW Post 2818, National Guard soldiers, Litchfield Marching Band and other civic organizations, will start at 9:15 a.m. in Central Park. The parade will proceed west on Third Street and south on Swift Avenue to South Park.

The traditional program at Ripley Cemetery begins about 10 a.m. with the pledge. Legion Commander, Dennis Jaster, will perform duties as master of ceremonies. Several dignitaries will be invited to speak, along with the annual placement of the wreath, G.A.R. ritual and playing of “Taps.”

The Sons of the American Legion will host a French toast breakfast from 7 to 11 a.m. at the Legion.
The Memorial Day picnic at the G.A.R. Hall will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The picnic has been a part of the G.A.R. Hall since 1885. A full meal of barbecues, beans, hot dogs, chips, pie, ice cream sundaes and beverages will be served for $6. Pie, ice cream and a beverage is $3. Terry Shaw will provide music.

Cokato
The Cokato Museum will hold its annual Memorial Day open house from 9 a.m. to noon Monday. The Cokato American Legion and Auxiliary’s Memorial Day parade begins at 10:15 a.m. with a 10:45 a.m. program in the Cokato Elementary School auditorium.

Cosmos
A Memorial Day service is planned at 11 a.m. Monday at the Legion Club in Cosmos, followed by a potluck dinner.

Darwin
The seventh annual Darwin Lakes Area Memorial Day program will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at the Hantge Funeral Chapel. Mayor Orlan Cervin will welcome attendees, followed by an invocation. Keynote speaker is Chaplain Mark Thompson, 1-125th Field Artillery in New Ulm. A balloon release is scheduled to take place at about 11 a.m., with “Taps” played by Willard Schultz of Litchfield.

Dassel
A Memorial Day parade will start at 8:45 a.m. at the Dassel Elementary School and end at the Dassel Cemetery for a 9 a.m. program. Keynote speaker is the Rev. Douglas Pierce. The Dassel-Cokato High School band will perform. Following the program, the Dassel Area Historical Society will serve coffee at the Universal Lab Building.

Eden Valley
The American Legion Club in Eden Valley will lead Memorial Day events beginning with an 11:30 a.m. parade down main street in Eden Valley. Following the parade, visitors can gather at the Legion Park on Minnesota Highway 22 by the railroad tracks. Iraq War veteran Eric Reetz will speak.

Forest City
A Veterans Memorial Service will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at Forest City War Memorial Park. Jim Milan from the G.A.R. Hall will be the speaker. Sara Dollerschell will provide music. In case of rain, it will be at St. Matthew’s Church in Forest City.

Kingston
State Sen. Steve Dille will speak at a 10 a.m. Memorial Day event at Kingston Apostolic Lutheran Church. Following the program, the Johnson-Kelly American Legion Post 483 Auxiliary will serve coffee and cake at the Kingston Community Center.

Watkins
The Watkins American Legion Club will honor its veterans in a Memorial Day program at 9:30 a.m. Monday in Veterans Park. Following the program, which will remember veterans at the park’s four war memorials and with a roll call of the deceased, the Eden Valley-Watkins Marching Band will lead a parade to St. Anthony’s Church Cemetery for an outdoor Mass.