FOR RELEASE:
May 19, 2020
Contact:
Angela Ingalls (970) 263-8986
Joanne Iglesias at (970) 250-0271
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. - The traditional annual Memorial Day ceremonies are canceled at the Veterans
Memorial Cemetery of Western Colorado at 2830 Riverside Parkway in Grand Junction, because of
the novel coronavirus pandemic.
The Memorial Day ceremonies traditionally start with flag placement on graves by the public, followed
by a Retreat Ceremony and Flag Retirement and Burning Ceremony. The Memorial Day ceremony is
traditionally held on Monday, May 25th.
On Thursday, May 21st, buckets of grave flags will be placed at each interment area. Immediate family
members are welcome to come out and place a flag on a loved ones gravesite from 10:00am to
4:00pm. You must have a mask, have no more than ten members in your group, and practice social
distancing.
On Friday, May 22nd, flags will be placed on gravesites by cemetery staff and limited veteran service
organizations. The Patriot Guard Riders and the Harley Owners Group (H.O.G Club) will place the
Avenue of Flags on the main entrance fence along Riverside Parkway.
On Sunday, May 24th at 6: pm, Cemetery staff will formally lower and retire the American flag for the
evening.
The Retreat Ceremony, flag Retirement and Burning ceremony, are also cancelled.
On Monday, May 25th, the annual Memorial Day ceremony honoring all veterans is cancelled. The
Veterans Memorial Cemetery will post a link to a pre-recorded video ceremony which will be shared
on social media.
If you would like to place a wreath in memory of a group, you may do so Thursday-Monday behind
the main flag poles against the wall.
The Veterans Memorial Cemetery is open to the public seven days a week, from dawn to dusk and
families are welcome to visit. While there will be no public ceremony, cemetery staff will be onsite to
assist with finding and accessing gravesites. Please wear a mask, limit the number in your group to
ten persons, and please practice social distancing to ensure a safe visit for all of our veterans’
families.