The Panama village board is working their way towards finalizing plans for the annual Memorial Day celebration. P-J photo by Sara Holthouse

PANAMA — Final plans are in the works for the village of Panama’s annual Memorial Day celebration.

County Legislator Travis Heiser has been confirmed for the speaker for the parade and Pastor Andy Cook with the Baptist Church will be doing the invocation. The Methodist church’s new minister, Paul Winkleman, is ready and willing to help as well.

“The new pastor is ready and willing, he told me,” Village Clerk Lisa Ireland said. “He loves all things Memorial Day, Veterans Day, so if you need him he is ready to help.”

Mayor William Schneider said there is also a “hat trick” going on for the parade, because a Panama graduate who is a priest reached out to him and asked to participate in the Memorial Day celebrations too. The Panama graduate will be doing the prayer during the middle of the day’s celebrations and Winkleman will do the benediction. Schneider added that Winkleman is welcome to add his own comments before the benediction as well.

The board will also welcome the participating priests and pastors to walk in the parade, though Cook has already expressed he did not wish to walk. They are working on ordering rubber bracelets to hand out on the day.

Still in the works are advertisements, contacting the Fire Department, and figuring out a way to encourage floats.

“I think we had just as many floats if not more than the senior citizens parade,” Village Trustee Kim Davis said. “So that means then, how do we step up our game?”

When posting the notice on the village’s Facebook page, it was suggested to include that they will be encouraging floats. The village will be contacting the school to figure out the music and bands during the parade, such as “Call to Colors” and “Taps”.

The board also discussed what will be printed on the back of the programs and setting up the tents, the sound system, chairs, tables, and what else will be needed for the day.