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Memorial Day pork roast

Free for veterans, open to public

The Iola Historical Society and the Sheveland-Taylor American Legion Post 14 will host their fifth annual Memorial Day Pork Roast following the annual Iola Memorial Day Parade.

The Memorial Day Parade starts at 11 Monday, May 28, at the Iola-Scandinavia High School parking lot and proceeds to Veterans Park. A Memorial Day service will then take place at the park, which is on North Main Street.

After the service, the parade will proceed and end at the Iola Historical Society’s historic village on Depot Street. The dinner will be held at the society’s Machine Shed at 222 Depot Street.

The pork roast starts at noon and runs until 3 p.m. All veterans are offered a free dinner in honor of their service. Local Legion members will be noting the branch and years of service for each veteran attending.

The donation for dinner for spouses and the general public is $10, $5 for children 12 and under. The dinner includes all the trimmings. Sodas and bottled water will also be available for purchase from Iola’s Boy Scout Troop 631.

The Machine Shed is one of seven buildings at the Iola Historical Society’s historic village that will be open for touring during the event.

The others are the original Iola & Northern Railway depot; the original Helvetia Town Hall; a replica one-room schoolhouse; a vintage 1930s log hunting cabin; a replica fire station containing some of Iola’s early original firefighting vehicles; and the main museum/office.

A vintage caboose is also on the grounds, but that is currently being restored and is not available for tours.

The museum includes a display about Iola World War II veteran Lee Nelson, who flew 31 bombing missions in a B-17 “Flying Fortress” over Germany and German-occupied France.

Attendees will also have the opportunity to view the Towne Native American Artifacts Collection, featuring an array of authentic historic artifacts that is second to none in Wisconsin, which will be formally dedicated at a June 9 event.

A vintage Norwegian flag dating from the 1920s, property of Iola’s original Sons of Norway Fram Lodge 357 established in 1928, but was disbanded in 1932, is also displayed, along with the lodge’s original charter.

Docents will be on hand to answer any questions. The historical society is open throughout the summer on Saturday afternoons from noon to 3 p.m. starting June 2 through Aug. 25.

Three other Iola Historical Society events are slated for 2018: the Ray Towne Native American Artifacts exhibit grand opening and Native American Heritage Day on June 9; Strawberry Fest on June 24; and the Taste of Norway and Lost Arts Fair on Oct. 6.

For more information on the Iola Historical Society, go to www.iolahistoricalsociety.org or www.ischamber.com.

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