Seating for Joplin Community Memorial Service begins at 11:30 a.m.

JOPLIN, Mo. - At 2 p.m. Sunday, May 29, Missourians will gather for a Joplin Community Memorial Service in the wake of the devastating tornado that struck the city last Sunday. The service will take place at the Taylor Performing Arts Center on the campus of Missouri Southern State University. Clergy from the Joplin area will lead the service, and a local choir will provide musical accompaniment. Gov. Jay Nixon will deliver a message at the service, and President Barack Obama will offer brief remarks.

Doors to the event open to the public at 11:30 a.m. with no tickets required.

Once the Taylor Auditorium is full, overflow seating will be available at several campus facilities, including the campus tennis courts, Corley Auditorium in Webster Hall, Black Box Theater in Taylor Halland Robert W. Plaster Free Enterprise Center where a live broadcast of the service can be seen.

The program will be streamed via the Web on a link that can be found at www.more.net. A live feed will be provided to television stations to carry the service. Check local listings for availability.

For parking, motorists should enter on Newman Road where Missouri National Guardsmen and local law enforcement will direct them to parking. Handicap parking is available. Shuttles will be provided for those who have to park at a distance.

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For more information about this release, please contact the Missouri National Guard Public Affairs Office at ngmo.pao@us.army.mil.