Today is Memorial Day, a time to remember the military personnel who died in service to their country. As they do every year, members of the local American Legion Auxiliary have been out sprucing up cemeteries in preparation for the day, placing flags at the graves of departed veterans. This year, they also honored one of their own: Ruth Harris, former president of the Ellis Tracy Unit, who passed on April 9 at the age of 95.

Known for her patriotism and her unflagging service to veterans with the American Legion Auxiliary, Harris played a number of other roles during the many decades she lived in Grant County, from newspaperwoman to radio host, civic booster to entertainer. Since her death we’ve been gathering recollections of Ruth from many of those who knew her, and we’ll have a remembrance of her life in this week’s edition of the Eagle.

Last week, in case you missed it, we carried stories about changes at the top of the Grant County Health Department, retired school bus driver Millie Lysne, a thrilling performance by the Grant Union/Prairie City baseball team and an equally thrilling performance by the Long Creek Academic Bowl team. 

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— Bennett Hall, Editor