EVANS CITY — Despite the concerns of some borough residents who feared the event would not happen, members of the Evans City American Legion say the planning for this year’s Memorial Day service in Evans City is well under way.

Every year American Legion Post 219 in Evans City organizes Memorial Day observances in the borough, with a trip to Evans City Cemetery, where area veterans are recognized by residents and local organizations.

“We have a guest speaker and four or five poems (are) read,” said Councilman John McKinney. “We have the ROTC there and the Boy Scouts place the flag on the war memorials.”

In community forums on Facebook and at a meeting earlier this month, residents expressed uncertainty that the service would be organized, while the Evans City American Legion is going through a transitional period following the retirement of Dean McMillen, longtime post commander. However, McKinney said that preparations for the event have been going smoothly.

“The council is helping and so is the Rotary, so we pretty much have everything under control,” McKinney said. “We did very well last year considering that we didn’t have Dean there to keep us in line.”

The service will be at 2 p.m. May 27 at the cemetery. If it rains, the service will be shifted to Evans City Elementary School.