65 members and visitors met at the Old Vangen Lutheran Church in Mission Hill for their annual Memorial Day Service. The church was constructed in 1869 and served as the primary worship site until the completion of the New Church in 1918.
Vicar Mary Herndricks-Wilkins presided over the service, while the message was delivered by Pastor Shodoe (Shadow) Hanson.
Hanson, serving churches in Hurley and Lennox, explains what this day means to him ….
The Gayville American Legion and Auxillary, assisted by the Boy Scouts, provided the honor guard and performed a 21-gun salute and echoing taps.
The high gas prices have even impacted this ceremony. Visitors from as far away as Virginia and California regularly attend, where the furthest anyone traveled from this year was the Twin Cities.
The next scheduled service in the Old Church will be on Father’s Day, June 19th.
