25-05-2025
Tupelo Memorial Day ceremony set for Monday morning
TUPELO — Tupelo officials will honor those who died serving in the United States Armed Forces as part of the federal Memorial Day holiday Monday.
The city of Tupelo will hold its annual Memorial Day ceremony at Veterans Memorial Park on Monday at 9 a.m.
This year's program includes remarks from Mayor Todd Jordan, with U.S. Rep Trent Kelly, who served 39 years in the Mississippi Army National Guard as a combat engineer, as the key speaker.
While Veterans Day, which takes place in the fall, is reserved for all service members, Memorial Day honors those who died while in service of the country.
Kelly was mobilized for Desert Storm in 1990 and also served with the 155th Brigade as operations officer of the 150th Engineer Battalion in Iraq. He earned the rank of major general before his retirement in 2025 and earned multiple awards, including two Bronze Stars, the Combat Action Badge, the Bronze, Silver, and Gold de Fleury medals, among others.
In the event of rain, the ceremony will move from its traditional place at the park square to inside the Tupelo Aquatic Center, also on the park grounds. The ceremony is open to the public and free to attend.
The national anthem will be performed by Hope Nanney and Camren Wages, 'Amazing Grace' will be performed by Owen McCulloch, and taps will be conducted by Sgt. Derrick Usher.
