Barta will speak at Memorial Day program

Lt. Col. Keith Barta will be the featured speaker at the 2016 Memorial Day observance in New Prague Monday, May 30.

Residents of New Prague will observe the holiday with the traditional parade from City Hall to the Veterans Memorial on the south side of New Prague’s Memorial Park, along Second Street SE. Prior to the parade, the New Prague Veterans Honor Guard will visit area cemeteries for a brief observance, with the names of deceased veterans who are buried at those cemeteries being read, followed by a rifle salute.

Cemetery visits The Veterans Honor Guard will gather at the Park Ballroom at 8:15 a.m. and depart at 8:45 for area cemeteries. The schedule includes: 9 a.m. - St. Patrick 9:35 a.m. - St. Benedict 9:55 a.m. - Lanesburgh 10:15 a.m. - Union Hill 10:30 a.m. - Czech National 10:45 a.m. - St. Wenceslaus The St. Wenceslaus ceremony will follow a Memorial Day Mass offered at the cemetery beginning at 10 a.m.

Parade New Prague’s Memorial Day Parade will begin at 11:30 a.m. (a change from past years). Those participating will gather at City Hall, 118 Central Ave. N. Marching in the parade will be the Honor Guard, representatives of the American Legion and VFW, area veterans and their family members. Other parade participants include the Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts and the New Prague High School Band.

New Prague American Legion Past Commander George Tupy will provide a float for veterans and others wishing to take part in the parade, but unable to walk the route. The float will be at the City Hall prior to the parade. The parade will proceed south on Central Avenue to Main Street, turn east onto Main, then continue to Lincoln Ave, where it will proceed south, ending at the New Prague Veteran’s Memorial.

Program The program will be held next to the Veterans Memorial at Memorial Park, beginning at 11:45 a.m. Father Dave Barrett will give the invocation and Lt. Col. Keith Barta will give the main address.

Barta, a lifelong resident of New Prague, enlisted in the Army Reserves in 1987 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant after graduating from the University of Minnesota in 1992. He has held numerous command positions at the Detachment, Company and Battalion level, including mobilizations to Kuwait and Iraq as both a Company and Battalion Commander. As a Company Commander, his 353rd Transportation Company delivered more than 25 million gallons of bulk fuel over 1.25 million miles in Kuwait and Iraq. As a Battalion Commander, his 419th Transportation Battalion oversaw transportation operations in Kuwait, Iraq, Jordan and the Sinai to include more than 15,000 transportation movements.

He has also had two mobilizations to Fort McCoy, WI, training soldiers deploying overseas. LTC Barta currently commands the 419th Transportation Battalion located in Peoria, IL.

In his civilian life, Barta and his wife DeLynn live in New Prague and Keith works for the New Prague Utilities Commission. They have two children, Cassie (and son-inlaw Matthew Ullom) of New Prague and Alexa, a student at the University of Minnesota, Morris. They also have two grandchildren, Hailee and Aidan Ullom.

He is the son of Fritz and Dorothy Barta of Montgomery.

After Barta’s speech, leaders of the American Legion and VFW will read a list of names of deceased military veterans from the community who are buried elsewhere.

A wreath will be laid at the Veterans Memorial and a rifle salute from the Honor Guard and playing of "Taps" will conclude the ceremony. In case of inclement weather, the program will be held at the Park Ballroom.