Planning for Memorial Day

• Overview: A list so we can remember from year to year what was done.


• Finances:
• Donations provides most of the income
• Mowing and trimming cemetery is the major cost item
• Homecoming lunch is generally break even proposition


• Timing & Schedule:
• Catering: Arrange for lunch to be served eight weeks in advance. Smokey Mo’s BBQ catered the meal in 2008 - www.smokeymosbbq.com
• Post Cards: Mail cards announcing work day, flag ceremony and address for donations four weeks before work day
• Flags: Order Flags from American Legion in Bertram (Fidelia Salinas - 355-2608) at least four weeks in advance
• Newspaper: Notify newspapers four weeks in advance
• PEC: Call PEC two weeks in advance to have power turned on and tell them which day to turn off (as soon as possible after the homecoming)
• Tabernacle: Contact the church board chairman two weeks in advance to arrange to use the Mahomet Tabernacle for the business meeting and lunch
• Cut Grass: Have the grass cut a few days before work day
• Work Day: Work Day is Saturday one week before Flag Ceremony
• Flag Ceremony: Flag Ceremony is Saturday before Memorial Day
• Flag Ceremony at 11AM
• Followed by Business Meeting
• Followed by Lunch


• Work Day & Program Planning:
• Determine the gathering location, electrical power, tables, podium, flags for graves, bucket to hold the flags, list of veterans, etc.
• Determine the flag ceremony sequence, speakers, someone to do prayer, etc.
• Make sure sound system is complete and that it works properly.
• Clean Tabernacle Bathrooms, etc.
• Update website with burials since last year
• Update book at cemetery with new grave locations


• Flag Ceremony Planning
• Gathering Location: Find a location underthe trees where there is a breeze and the speaker can be close to the audience.
• Roles: Assign someone to do prayer, to welcome folks, to read names, to pass out flags
• Sound System: Always place the speakers between the microphone and the audience. Placing the speakers behind the microphone will cause nothing but trouble. Sit the speakers on a table or chair so they are at “ear height” and face the audience. Against a tree is a good place for a speaker.


• Business Meeting & Lunch Planning
• Make available treasures report & last years meeting minutes – secretary/treasurer
• Plan for any meal or food service
• Set up tables and chairs
• Someone to receive donations (sign soliciting donations would be nice) - secretary/treasurer
• Someone to receive meal payments - secretary/treasurer
• Someone to do the prayer
• Someone to conduct meeting - president
• Someone to take meal tickets – vice president
• Tear down tables and chairs


• Business Meeting Agenda
• Welcome
• Approve last years Meeting Minutes
• Read Treasures Report
• Elect replacements for outgoing board members

To: Mahomet Cemetery