LAKE HAVASU CITY – Last week and Monday, Lake Havasu honored our Veterans with various Memorial Day activities that occurred around town. Havasu Community Health Foundation’s Dementia Connection hosted an Honoring Our Veterans lunch that took place Thursday, May 23 at the Memory Cafe. The Veterans of Foreign War (VFW) Post honored Veterans with their Memorial Day event held on Monday, May 27 at Wheeler Park.
The Dementia Connection of Havasu was developed under the umbrella of the Havasu Community Health Foundation. They are a nonprofit group of volunteers whose mission is to raise awareness and give support systems to those suffering from the illness along with family members and healthcare providers. The VFW is another nonprofit that has been in existence for over several decades.
They are an organization that has been nurturing relationships amongst those who have served overseas. They also strive to make sure that Veterans will continue to receive remembrances and recognitions that they deserve.
Last Thursday, members of the Dementia Connection invited Veterans of the Marine Corp League to their Honoring Our Veterans celebration. The gathering at Memory Cafe which is inside Friendship Cafe at Mount Olive Church, is a venue that the volunteers of the Dementia Connection supports along with other organizations of the community. The free community event included food and drink by Beacon Hope of Hospice, and fun activities like sing-alongs of historic patriotic songs. Members of the Marine Corp stood before attendees for a full flag folding demonstration that included the prelude, pause, body, pause, and postlude.
VFW’s Memorial Day Event was appropriately celebrated at Wheeler Park. The park that is historically known for other recognition events for Veterans such as Veterans Day. Guests brought their own chairs and water. Several of the attendees were from community organizations such as Mayor Cal Sheehy, city council board members, members of the American Legion, along with the fire and police department. Marine Corp members demonstrated the historic Field Battle Cross ceremony. Memorial Day is celebrated yearly to honor the passing of the Veterans who lost their lives while serving this country.
Phaedra Veronique