Photos: Rosemount Observes Memorial Day

Gray skies could not dampen pride in the red, white and blue, nor could it quell the remembrance of veterans who fought and died for America as Rosemount remembered its fallen in a Memorial Day ceremony under the threat of rain at Central Park on Monday morning.

"It is a somber occasion, so perhaps this is fitting," Master of Ceremonies David Gary said. 

Gary emceed a 45-minute tribute that included performances of patriotic music by the 34th Infantry "Red Bull" Division Band that was in Iraq this time last year.

After a posting of the Colors, a rendition of the Star Spangled Banner and the Pledge of Allegiance by PFC. Mitch Belhke of the 32nd Infantry Division, Reverend Chuck Tindell of the United States Marine Core Reserves gave the invocation and Rosemount Mayor William Droste welcomed those in attendance.

"Men and women from Rosemount have served the nation and many have given their lives," said Droste, while recalling veterans from the area that have made the ultimate sacrifice since the city's founding in 1858.

"We have strong veteran's groups in Rosemount and to all those involved, I say thank you," he said. 

The Memorial Address was given by Lt. Colonel Bob Stephenson of the USMC, and Iraq War Veteran who currently resides in Woodbury.

"Memorial Day is about our friends that didn't come home; this day is about them," he said. "This is not Veteran's Day, not Independence Day; this day is about those who are buried, those not coming home and those who are not here with us."

While admitting that he was "preaching to the choir," Stephenson tasked those in attendance to remember those who died for their country and their families.

"You don't have to do much, but you have to feel," he said. "God will know."

Following Stephenson's speech, the ceremony continued with a band performance of each of the anthem's of the nation's armed forces and a ringing of the bell for those that had fallen.

The Central Park proceedings then concluded with a wreath laying at Rosemount's war memorial, accompanied by a firing of three volleys from a rifle detachment and the Benediction, given by Tindell.

Following the ceremony, many of those in attendance embarked on a series of visits to local cemeterys that included St. Joseph's, Rosemount, Lebanon, Rich Valley and Pine Bend before concluding the scheduled activities with a lunch hosted by the VFW Post 9433 Women's and Men's Auxilliarys, the American Legion Unit 65 Auxilliary and the Friends and Families of the VVA Chapter 492 at the Rosemount American Legion.