Day of Honor & Remembrance Planned for May 27

The West Central Missouri Veterans Assistance League will host its fourth annual Day of Honor and Remembrance Luminary Drive on Memorial Day, May 27, at the Missouri Veterans Home in Warrensburg. 

This is a chance to honor all veterans past and present, as well as those who are currently serving in the military. There are multiple levels of sponsorships that individuals, families, businesses and organizations can participate in.

The first is the light pole banner level. These cost $225 and will be hung in the Missouri Veterans Home parking lot from Memorial Day Weekend until mid-December. Since they are two-sided, sponsors can honor one or two veterans.

They include the veteran’s picture, name and branch of service. When the banners are taken down in December, the sponsor may pick it up. They are 24” wide by 48” tall. Currently, there are 46 banners representing 56 different veterans flying overhead.

The second level is a yard sign sponsorship. These cost $60 and include a veteran’s picture, name and branch of service. They will be placed around the fire lane at the Missouri Veterans Home on Memorial Day for an Honor Drive. Sponsors may pick up their sign starting June 3.

The final level of sponsorship is a luminary level. These cost $25 and include a veteran’s name and branch of service. They will be placed around the home’s fire lane and lit at dusk on Memorial Day Night for a luminary drive-thru tour.

“This is a great way to honor the fallen who we miss so much on Memorial Day. It keeps their faces and light shining brightly and reminds us to never forget their service and sacrifices,” said Latisha Koetting, supervisor of volunteer services. “In addition, it’s a wonderful way to honor the present. With Father’s Day right around the corner, it’s the kind of gift that keeps on giving. You are honoring your favorite veteran while enhancing the lives of other veterans.”

Service photos need to be high resolution and good quality. Small photos won’t reproduce well. They may be emailed to Latisha.Koetting@mvc.dps.mo.gov.

The deadline for the banners is Wednesday, May 8. The deadline for the yard signs is Friday, May 17, and the deadline for the luminaries is Wednesday, May 22. Checks can be made payable to the Veterans Assistance League and sent to the Missouri Veterans Home at 1300 Veterans Road, Warrensburg, MO 64093. For more information, call 660-429-4661.

Cutlines: These are pictures from the 2023 Day of Honor and Remembrance. They show the transform of what it looks like from daylight to dusk. A luminary drive-thru tour will be hosted on Memorial Day at the Missouri Veterans Home starting at 10 a.m.