NP Memorial Day speaker is American Legion adjutant

Those who served and who gave all for their country will be remembered Memorial Day, Monday morning, May 26, with services at New Prague area cemeteries and other events.

Included will be guest speaker Mike Maxa, adjutant for the American Legion, Department of Minnesota, during a ceremony at the New Prague Veterans Memorial, east of the New Prague Library on E Main Street, beginning between noon and 12:30 p.m.

In case of inclement weather, the program will be moved indoors to Park Ballroom, 300 Lexington Ave. S.

Maxa is a member of the Montgomery American Legion Post 79. As department adjutant, Maxa works at the direction of the executive committee and the department commander to administer the policies and mandates for the American Legion. He also manages the commander’s calendar, coordinates and plans conventions, conferences, and budgetary responsibilities for the state American Legion.

Maxa is a 20-year veteran of the United States Air Force. Maxa served as an aircrew life-support specialist, electrical power production technician, and an aircraft maintenance plans and scheduling superintendent. His awards and decorations include Life Support Airman of the Year for the 388th Fighter Wing, Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) of the year for the 1945th Communications Group, Meritorious Service Medal, Commendation Medal-3-oak leaf clusters, Achievement Medal-2 oak leaf clusters, Good Conduct Medal-4 oak leaf clusters, Overseas Long Tour and Short Tour medals, marksmanship medal, National Defense Medal and the Outstanding Unit Award-1 oak leaf cluster. He retired from active duty in 1998, attaining the rank of Master Sergeant.

Memorial Day schedule The New Prague Veterans Honor Guard will begin the day with visits to area cemeteries where the names of those buried at those cemeteries will be read. The visits begin at St. Patrick Cemetery at 9 a.m. followed by St. Benedict Cemetery, 9:25 a.m., Lanesburgh Cemetery, 9:50 a.m., Union Hill Cemetery, 10:10 a.m., Czech National Cemetery, 10:30 a.m. and St. Wenceslaus Cemetery, 10:50 a.m.

A parade will be held with it starting between 11:30-11:45 a.m. Assembly will take place at New Prague City Hall’s parking lot, 118 Central Ave. N. Participants will include the New Prague Veterans Honor Guard, Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus and New Prague area Boy and Girl Scouts. The parade will start along Central Avenue N and head south to Main Street, turn east onto Main Street and proceed to the New Prague Veterans Memorial.

Co-masters of ceremony at the veterans memorial will be American Legion Post 45 Commander John Metzdorff and American Legion Post 45 First Vice Commander Chad Lukkes. The New Prague High School band will play the national anthem and an invocation will be given by George Tupy, American Legion Post 45 chaplin. New Prague Mayor Duane Jirik will give the greeting followed by guest speaker Maxa. A reading of the names of deceased veterans will be read by Tupy and Past VFW Commander Nick Slavik. The high school band will perform “Military Hymn Medleys” with a laying of a wreath for families of World War II deceased veterans. A rifle salute and the playing of taps by Steve Skluzacek will follow.