DAVENPORT, Iowa - LULAC Council 10 will honor and thank Americans who have served in the military or served the community as first responders during its annual wreath laying ceremony Oct. 15.
All active and retired military are invited, as well as former and current police, fire and EMS personnel. The ceremony is open to the public and begins at 11 a.m. in LeClaire Park, 400 W. Beiderbecke Drive, Davenport.
The American Legion Post 200 Color Guard will Present the Colors, followed by opening remarks by LULAC Community Affairs Representative Maria Mier Llaca and Master of Ceremonies and LULAC Council 10 president Matt Casillas.
Davenport Mayor Frank Klipsch will give the welcome address, followed by keynote speaker
Brigadier General Richard B. Dix, Commanding General of the Joint Munitions and Lethality Life Cycle Management Command and Joint Munitions Command on the Rock Island Arsenal.
The ceremony will conclude with a tribute to all fallen American military and first responders. Volunteers from U.S. Coast Guard Flotilla 93 will lay eight floral wreaths in the Mississippi River, followed by a 21-gun salute by Viet Nam Veterans Chapter 299.
Each wreath, handmade by LULAC members, represents a branch of the military and will be blessed by The Rev. Fredi Gomez Torres prior to being placed on the water.
Members of the Quad City Patriot Guard Riders and U.S. Army veteran and bagpiper Derek Grant will also participate in the ceremony.
Representatives and members from all Rock Island Arsenal commands; American Legion posts; Veterans of Foreign Wars; Honor Flight; veteran agencies; and federal, state, county and local government leaders are invited to join the public in honoring active and retired military and first responders.
This is the sixth year LULAC Council 10 has coordinated and hosted the ceremony. The council holds the event on the last day of Hispanic Heritage Month, which is a national observance of the history and positive impact Latinos have had on the world.
LULAC Council 10, based in Davenport, is the largest and most active council in Iowa. Its 150 volunteer members host cultural events, mentor youth, support schools and youth organizations. In the past 38 years, Council 10 members have raised and awarded more than $500,000 in scholarships to 800 students living in the region.
For more information about the wreath ceremony, contact LULAC Council 10 community affairs representative Maria Mier Llaca at 415-246-0491 or mariamierll@gmail.com.
The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is the nation’s largest and oldest civil rights volunteer-based organization that empowers Hispanic Americans and builds strong Latino communities. Headquartered in Washington, DC, with 1000 councils around the United States and Puerto Rico, LULAC’s programs, services and advocacy address the most important issues for Latinos, meeting critical needs of today and the future. For more information, visit www.LULAC.org.
###
