A tribute to those who paid the ultimate sacrifice in the defense of our country.

DATE: Friday, May 28, 2010 at noon
LOCATION: North steps of Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument; Downtown Indianapolis
COST: FREE, open to the public (free metered parking in the downtown area on this day from 7 a.m.- 6 p.m.)

The month of May in Indianapolis is a celebration of the world’s largest single-day sporting event in the world – the Indianapolis 500. Beyond that, the 500 Festival also embraces a very important holiday in the midst of its festivities – Memorial Day and a weekend to remember the sacrifices made by Indiana men and women who perished while serving in the armed forces.

"Memorial Day weekend in Indianapolis begins with the honorable recognition of our fallen Hoosiers," says Steve Walker, 500 Festival Chairman. "The sacrifices made by these sons and daughters, fathers and mothers, on behalf of our country and our freedom will never be forgotten."

 General Craig R. McKinley will be the featured speaker at the 2009 500 Festival Memorial Service, presented by Rolls-Royce. General McKinley is Chief of the National Guard Bureau, a joint activity of the Department of Defense in Arlington, Va. As Chief, he is the senior uniformed National Guard officer responsible for formulating, developing and coordinating all policies, programs and plans affecting more than 500,000 Army and Air National Guard personnel. Appointed by the President, General McKinley serves as the principal adviser to the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary and Chief of Staff of the Army and the Secretary and Chief of Staff of the Air Force on all National Guard issues.

Other speakers will include Governor Mitch Daniels,  Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard and 500 Festival Chairman of the Board Steve Walker. The service will feature an impressive host of military officers and families of soldiers, who have served our country and given their lives for our freedom in as recent conflicts as Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, and honored our troops. The service included the Joint Services Color Guard presentation of colors. Performances included the United States 38^th Division Band and the Capital City Chorus.

A wreath-laying ceremony, dedicated to the memory of all Hoosiers in all wars and conflicts who sacrificed their lives in defense of the nation, took place while the names of those Indiana servicemen who have fallen within the past year were read aloud. 

A military funeral Cortège, a special horse-drawn caisson presented by the Military Department of Indiana Ceremonial Unit, symbolized Army soldiers who accompany the remains of the deceased to the gravesite. The rider-less horse represented the fact that the deceased had fallen as a warrior and will not ride again. A ceremonial flyover by the “Blacksnakes” of the 122^nd Fighter Wing of the Indiana Air National Guard, Fort Wayne, IN, concluded the service.

Please join us on May 28, 2010 for this very special ceremony. The 500 Festival Memorial service, presented by Rolls-Royce, is sponsored and supported by One America Financial Partners, Inc., Rolls-Royce, The American Legion, and WFMS 95.5 FM. The Service is free to the public with downtown metered parking available at no charge on the day of the service.