Keynote speaker is a sergeant in SC State Guard Simpsonville, S.C. — The City of Simpsonville will host the annual Simpsonville Memorial Day Ceremony on May 26 at 11 a.m. at the Simpsonville Arts Center. Mayor Paul Shewmaker will lead the program, which will feature keynote speaker Sgt. John Salinas of the S.C. State Guard and operations manager for OneBlood, a nonprofit organization that hosts blood drives. Sgt. Salinas will talk about the recent lifting of restrictions on blood donations that prevented many veterans from donating blood for decades. Also featured at the ceremony will be Simpsonville Police Department Chaplain Bishop John C. Smith, the National Anthem, Armed Forces Salute and taps.