Retired Army Col. Rachele Smith to speak at Carlyle Memorial Day service

Retired U.S. Army Col. Rachele Smith    A Memorial Day service will be held Monday, May 25, at 10 a.m. at Carlyle Cemetery.
    The ceremony is being presented by Vietnam Veterans of Clinton County Chapter 269 and Carlyle VFW Post 3523. The event will include a flag-raising ceremony provided by the Carlyle Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts.
    The National Anthem will be performed by the Carlyle High School Music Department under the direction of Ms. Sanker. John Barrett will serve as master of ceremonies.
    The guest speaker will be Retired U.S. Army Col. Rachele Smith.
    Pastor Jason McIntosh will deliver the invocation and benediction. Carlyle High School students will also perform a musical selection. Vietnam Veterans Chapter 269 and Carlyle VFW Post 3523 will present the Salute to the Dead and participate in the placing of wreaths. Mike Wilton and Echo Don Diamond will perform "Taps."
    In the event of rain, services will be moved to the Carlyle VFW. Organizers also extended special thanks to Cub Scout Pack 281 for helping place flags on cemetery graves. Additional flags will be available at the Memorial Monument if any graves were unintentionally missed.
    Smith, a native of Bartelso and daughter of Phil and Carol Menkhaus, graduated as a Distinguished Military Graduate from Eastern Illinois University (EIU) and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Medical Service Corps in 1992.
    She graduated from Mater Dei High School in 1987, earned an Associate of Arts degree from Kaskaskia College, a Bachelor of Science degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology from Eastern Illinois University and a Master of Science degree in Health Services Administration from Central Michigan University.
    During her more than 27-year Army career, Smith served throughout the United States and overseas, including a peacekeeping mission in Kosovo, combat tours supporting Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, and humanitarian missions around the world. She retired with the rank of colonel.
    Following her military retirement, Smith worked in Jacksonville, Florida, as director of the Warrior Care Network for the Wounded Warrior Project before returning home to southern Illinois.
    She currently works at Aviston Grade School, serves as president of the Veterans Assistance Commission of Clinton County, and volunteers with Whispering Pines of Clinton County.
    Throughout her military career, Smith held numerous leadership positions in hospital administration, patient administration, health information management and medical operations.
    Her command assignments included leadership roles in Germany, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, and Fort Benning, Georgia, where she led the 14th Combat Support Hospital during Hurricane Maria relief efforts in Puerto Rico.
    Her military honors include two Legion of Merit awards, two Bronze Star Medals, seven Meritorious Service Medals, and numerous commendations and service awards.
    Smith also is a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion.