ESCANABA – The rifle squad from Amvets 123 in Escanaba has been practicing this week for Memorial Day ceremonies Monday. It is one of things being done to get ready to remember those who gave their lives for our country.

Mark List said being in the rifle squad is an honor. They work to be precise when called on to give a salute.

“When they start the ceremony they usually start with the National Anthem so we bring the rifles up to present arms. And then we go through a couple of maneuvers and we fire three volleys of seven making a 21 gun salute toward the end of the ceremony,” List said.

The rifle squad will be involved in Memorial Day ceremonies at Holy Cross, Lakeview and Gardens of Rest Cemeteries and Ludington Park.

Friday morning, flags were placed at graves of veterans at Holy Cross Cemetery in Escanaba. It is the first stop Monday for a series of programs on Memorial Day. Mike and Sharon Wagner of Escanaba walked among the gravestones placing an American flag at each veteran marker they could find.

“I’m a veteran and it’s something that has to be done to honor the veterans that gave their lives and are buried here,” Mike said.

Dave Wilson is the vice commander of the Delta County Veterans Council. He is urging everyone to participate in the Memorial Day program Monday at Garden of Rest.

“They are the ones that went across to foreign countries and fought so you could live a better life here in the United States,” said Wilson. “It’s all about protecting our freedom and thank God for the veterans that went and did it. We were over there sacrifices our lives so everyone here could be free. That’s what it is all about.”

1st Lt. Greg Cunningham, post commander of the Michigan State Police post in Gladstone will be the keynote speaker. The program begins at 11 a.m.