Mount Vernon Optic-Herald

Evan Sears led the Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag at the Monday, May 31 Memorial Day service on the square. A light rain did little to deter the more than 110 people attending the Memorial Day ceremony on the downtown Mount Vernon plaza on Monday, May 31. Those attending simply popped open umbrellas and stayed in place to honor veterans from Franklin County.
Bert Edmondson, a retired Lieutenant Colonel from the U. S. Army, was the keynote speaker. Mount Vernon Mayor J. D. Baumgardner, who served in both the U. S. Navy and the U. S. Army, acted as Master of Ceremonies for the event. Mayor Baumgardner read the names of those from Franklin County who had served in the military and for whom a flag was displayed around the downtown plaza. See the June 3 edition of the Mount Vernon Optic-Herald for more information.