Bloomfield, Missouri - The annual Memorial Day ceremony will be held at 1:00 p.m. at the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield on Monday, May 27, 2019.

The keynote speaker will be Lieutenant Colonel Bob Thrower, U.S. Army Ret.   He is a Dexter Native who was commissioned into the US Army in 1987.  he spent 20 years on active duty, retiring at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in 2008.  He also spent two years Missouri Army National Guard from 1984-1986.  he has spent the majority of his career as a signal officer, assignments included 1st Infantry Division,  Fort Riley Kansas; 22d Signal Brigade, Germany; Defense Special Weapons Agency, Alexandria, VA; 440th Signal Battalion, Germany; Command and General Staff College, Ft. Leavenworth, KS.  Deployments included Desert storm; Task Force Eagle, Implementation Force, Bosnia and Herzegovina; OIF-

Bob has a Bachelors Degree from Southeast Missouri State University, a Masters from Central Michigan University and is a graduate of the Command and General Staff College.

The POW/MIA Table Ceremony which honors soldiers that were prisoners of war or missing in action from each branch of the U.S. Military will also be presented.  Gary Kitchen will narrate. Representing the five armed forces are James Adams SFC USA RET US ARMY, Tom Love CAPT USMC US MARINE CORPS, Carl Bess P01USN RET US NAVY, John P. Myers MAJOR USAF US AIR FORCE,  AND Justin W. Baker CW04 USCG RET US COAST GUARD.

The Stoddard County Honor Guard will provide the firing of the volley for the Memorial Service.

Families and friends of those buried at the cemetery are invited to attend, as well as members of the general public.  For more information, contact the cemetery office at (573) 568-3871.

Special thanks to the following:

STODDARD COUNTY VETERANS HONOR GUARD

AMERICAN LEGION POST 59 HONOR GUARD

BOY SCOUT TROOP 4060; POPLAR BLUFF

HOPE CENTER

4H CLUB

BLOOMFIELD ASSISTANCE LEAGUE  OF THE MISSOURI VETERANS CEMETERY