Milton honors the fallen in Memorial Day program with keynote from Vietnam Army nurse

Milton held a Memorial Day remembrance ceremony at City Hall in downtown Crabapple on May 25, 2026, that opened with the presentation of colors, a proclamation from the city, and a keynote address by Vietnam-era Army nurse Jenny Dornhagen.

The mayor's office read the City of Milton 2026 proclamation recognizing the date as Memorial Day in Milton and tracing the holiday’s origins to 1868 and a later congressional designation of the last Monday in May. The host invited residents to attend the community ceremony and thanked participating organizations and volunteers.

Retired U.S. Army Colonel Nick Satrianiano, chairman of the Milton Veterans Memorial Markers Association, praised Milton’s tradition of honoring veterans and noted his group placed 949 markers around the community this year. "On behalf of my association ... we want to say thank you," Satrianiano said, thanking the mayor, city council and staff for hosting the event.

Keynote speaker Jenny Dornhagen, who served as an Army nurse in Vietnam and was introduced by the host, recounted growing up in Gettysburg and visiting the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. She said Memorial Day "is the one day each year when our nation pauses to honor the men and women who gave their lives in service to the United States of America," and urged attendees to teach future generations the meaning of the day.

Dornhagen described the personal side of remembrance—visiting memorials, placing flowers and remembering unnamed graves—and emphasized that memorials "honor service" rather than glorify war. Her remarks tied local observances in Milton to broader practices of commemoration and family remembrance.

Deacon Bob Grimmaldi delivered the benediction, offering prayers for service members, families of the fallen and national leaders. Organizers played Taps and invited attendees to view the markers outside and take photos before the ceremony concluded.

The program closed with acknowledgments of bagpiper Tom Crawford, volunteers from the Young Men's Service League and local Boy Scouts, and thanks to first responders. Attendees were invited to continue observing Memorial Day at the downtown Crabapple marker display.