The annual Memorial Day observance hosted by the Valparaiso Department of Parks and Recreation together with the Valparaiso Parks Foundation will be at 9:00 a.m. Friday, May 27 at the Service Memorial located at Foundation Meadows Park. Mayor Jon Costas will speak and the names inscribed on the Memorial of area veterans who lost their lives in the line of duty will be recited. Laurie Mullet, the CEO of Pines Village Retirement Communities, will speak. Mullet is a supporter of those who serve their country, including family members, friends, colleagues, and those who reside at Pines Village. She has a sincere appreciation and gratitude for their sacrifice to our county and was instrumental in organizing the 2007 Tour of Duty event, traveling with Korean and World War II area veterans to the Washington, DC World War II Memorial.
The Valparaiso Parks Foundation invites community members to continue honoring local heroes by purchasing commemorative bricks. The commemorative bricks, which cost $85 each and have enough room for 39 characters/spaces, can be engraved with a customized message. The message may honor a veteran or someone who serves the community, thank a special teacher or volunteer, recognize a dear friend or loved one, or simply demonstrate support for this important place in the community. For more information, call 462-5144.
The mission of the Valparaiso Parks Foundation is to foster growth and development of the parks of Valparaiso by creating new initiatives, encouraging active involvement and seeking philanthropic support.