Colfax Memorial Day 2016

At top left, Craig Willson plays Taps. Bottom left, Colfax and area veterans sit in the front row while others assemble behind them during the Memorial Day ceremony. At right, 270 flags adorned the Colfax Cemetery drive.

A four-member Air Force Honor Guard from Fairchild Air Force Base presented the colors Monday, May 30, for the Memorial Day ceremony at the Colfax cemetery. The Rev. Jeannette Solimine conducted the memorial service with Colfax and surrounding area veterans seated in the front row. The ceremony attracted many residents and out-of-town cemetery visitors. A moment of silence was observed in tribute to the late Archie Magon who was among members of the Colfax VFW Post which started the Memorial Day tradition at the cemetery. Magon died March 27, 2016, at the age of 94. Craig Willson of Colfax sang during the event and closed the ceremony by playing Taps.

A total of 270 veterans' flags were posted at the Colfax Cemetery for viewing over the Memorial Day weekend.

The memorial flags have been donated over the years by the families of deceased veterans from the Colfax area and around the county.

Five more flags have been added to the collection for display at the cemetery.

Each flag carries an identification mount with the name of the veteran.

A volunteer crew installed the flags at the cemetery this year, according to Henry Johnston, coordinator of the project for Bruning Funeral Home.

Others working on the project have been Willson, Sandy Archer, Dennis McDonald, David and Jon Buri, Bob and Tina Taylor and the LDS Boy Scout Troop under Scout Mitch Barney.

The volunteer crew stepped in this year to mount the flags.

Colfax FFA members have handled the task for several years, but they were unable to participate this year.