COVID-19 pandemic puts a halt on traditional Memorial Day festivities at Linn Grove Cemetery - Greeley Tribune

A relatively vacated bell tower area of Linn Grove Cemetery on Monday in Greeley, where hundreds normally gather for Greeley's Memorial Day program. (Bobby Fernandez/bfernandez@greeleytribune.com)

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As a patches of clouds begun to fill the otherwise bright, blue sky, the sounds of a slight breeze rustling through the leaves on the trees Monday at Greeley’s Linn Grove Cemetery replaced the usual sounds of guest speakers and messages from local leaders that normally fill the air during Memorial Day at the historic cemetery.

Because of public health concerns during the COVID-19 pandemic, Greeley’s traditional Memorial Day program at Linn Grove Cemetery was canceled.

Normally, the event at 1700 Cedar Ave., in Greeley, sees a guest speaker deliver a speech, a full ensemble of Greeley Police Honor Guard members raising and lowering the American flag, the ceremonial releasing of the “Doves of Hope” and some words from the likes of Greeley mayor John Gates and Weld County commissioners.

Members of the Greeley Police Honor Guard raise the American flag during much-condensed Memorial Day festivities Monday at Linn Grove Cemetery. (Bobby Fernandez/bfernandez@greeleytribune.com)

The event also normally sees hundreds of attendees.

In 2019, more than 300 people attended.

On Monday, about a dozen curious spectators gathered near the bell tower in the epicenter of the cemetery around noon as a much condensed ceremony, of sorts, took place.

A trio of honor guard members rose the flag.

The public address speakers played a recording of Ray Read’s “Freedom is Never Free” Memorial Day speech at noon, as it did on the hour from 8 a.m.-1 p.m.

While small groups of people came and went — visiting the gravesites of their loved ones at the cemetery — an occasional onlooker circled their vehicle around the bell tower area where the traditional “Avenue of Flags” display was set up — honoring lost veterans, displaying rows of American flags and providing the closest semblance of traditional Memorial Day festivities at the event.

— Bobby Fernandez covers growth and development for The Greeley Tribune. Reach him at bfernandez@greeleytribune.com, (970) 392-4478 or on Twitter @BobbyDFernandez

The “Avenue of Flags” display stood, honoring lost veterans, on Monday at Linn Grove Cemetery in Greeley, despite the normal Memorial Day program being canceled. (Bobby Fernandez/bfernandez@greeleytribune.com)

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COVID-19 pandemic puts a halt on traditional Memorial Day festivities at Linn Grove Cemetery - Greeley Tribune
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