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Area communities observe Memorial Day

Memorial Day observances scheduled in communities throughout the area

King

The Memorial Day program starts at 10 a.m. Monday, May 29, at the Wisconsin Veterans Home.

Gov. Tony Evers and Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary-designee James Bond are tentatively scheduled as guest speakers.

Volunteers will post flags for each branch of service and there will be a Missing Man Remembrance table set up. The service will also include the traditions of posting the colors, a rifle salute and the playing of Taps.

There will be an Avenue of Flags as visitors enter the cemetery and the administration building is open sunrise to sunset. In the main foyer is a grave locator, cemetery maps and restrooms.

More than 7,613 veterans and their dependents have been buried in the cemetery since 1888.

Waupaca

Waupaca’s Memorial Day program will start at 9 a.m. Monday, May 29, at the VFW post, 244 Industrial Drive.

The Waupaca High School band, under the direction of Brianna Hepfler, will play patriotic music.

BJ Elliot Prior, author of “Behind My Wings: The Untold Stories of Vietnam Vets,” will be the featured speaker. Retiring after 40 years as a flight attendant with Continental Airlines, she flew on MAC Operations, transporting soldiers during the Vietnam War.

A group with the Waupaca Senior Center will also perform.

Ceremonies will be held outside, weather permitting, so attendees should bring lawn chairs. In case of inclement weather, the service will move inside the hall.

New London

Memorial Day observances will begin at 10 a.m. Monday, May 29, in New London’s Taft Park, followed by a ceremony at 11 a.m. in Floral Hill Cemetery.

The guest speaker is Ben Killoy, a U.S. Marine veteran, blogger, life coach and podcaster who seeks to bring military fathers home to their families.

Sponsored by the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the day’s ceremonies will also include a ribbon cutting and dedication at the new American Legion storage building.

At noon, all veterans and their families are invited to a pig roast with live music.

Donations appreciated.

Clintonville

Memorial Day ceremonies in Clintonville will begin at 9 a.m. May 29, with a wreath laying at 20 Memorial Circle by the Pigeon River bridge.

A second ceremony will be held at 10 a.m. at Graceland Cemetery.

The keynote speaker is Navy veteran Jim Vissers, who served seven years on the USS Wasp.

Sponsored by American Legion Post and Auxiliary 63, the ceremony will include placing of a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, a firing squad salute and the sounding of Taps.

Memorial Day services will also be held at 11:30 a.m. in Embarrass.

Fremont

Memorial Day observances will begin at 10 a.m., Monday, May 29. Parade units will assemble at 9:30 a.m. at the Fremont-Wolf River American Legion parking lot behind the village hall. The parade will begin at 10 a.m. and proceed down Fillmore Street to Wolf River Drive to West Main Street before ending on Waupaca Street in front of the Legion Hall.

Services will be held following the parade at Wolf River Cemetery on County Trunk H. American Legion Post 391 will supervise the cemetery services. The guest speaker will be Department Vice Commander Jeff Zwiers. After the chaplain offers a prayer, students will read patriotic poems while Scouts place flowers at the graves of veterans.

Post 391 will then fire rifles into the air in tribute to America’s fallen soldiers. The ceremony will conclude with the sounding of “Taps.”

Everyone is invited to go to the Pioneer Cemetery for the dedication of a new flag pole from the Fremont Historical Society. Following the ceremonies there will be a Legion family potluck picnic at the Legion Hall.

Weyauwega

The Weyauwega Memorial Day parade will be held Monday, May 29, 2023. It will start at 8:30 a.m. from the Veterans Clubhouse on Mill Street. The American Legion and VFW posts along with the Boy and Girl Scouts, the Weyauwega Fire Department and the Weyauwega-Fremont High School band will match to the Oakwood cemetery for the memorial service. Anyone else who would like to join the parade is welcome to do so.

The Memorial Day program at the cemetery will feature guest speaker Jesse Cuff, the Waupaca County Veterans Service Officer. Music will be provided by the Danny Daren and the Weyauwega-Fremont High School band. In case of rain, the program will be held at the Weyauwega High School performing arts center on Ann Street at 8:45 a.m.

Iola-Scandinavia

Sheveland-Taylor American Legion Post 14 is organizing services in Iola and Scandinavia.

Ceremonies will start at 10 a.m. at the old bridge located on Scandinavia’s north side, west of Ellison Memorial Park, followed by services at Scandinavia Lutheran Cemetery.

A parade will start at 11 a.m. in Iola, followed by services at Veterans Memorial Park located at 200 N. Main St., Iola.

Dan Naylor, who served in the U.S. Army from June 1967 to May 1970, will be the keynote speaker.

Following the services, the Iola Historical Society and Post 14 will sponsor a free lunch for all veterans at the Machine Shed, 222 Depot St., Iola.

Manawa

Disabled American Veterans Chapter 53 has announced times for Manawa area services:

They include Royalton Cemetery, 9 a.m.; Little Wolf/Sacred Heart Cemetery, 10 a.m.; Little Wolf River bridge in Manawa, 10:45 a.m.; Little Wolf River bridge in Symco, 11:15; and Union Cemetery in Symco, 11:30 a.m.

A free lunch will be served from noon to 2 p.m. at the Union Town Hall.

Assistance is needed with the activities. Anyone that would like to bring a dish or help out with the lunch is asked to contact Charles Vandenplas at 715-213-7916 or [email protected].

Hortonville

Hortonville American Legion Post 55 will host a Memorial Day program beginning at 9:30 a.m. Monday at Hortonville HIgh School.

The guest speaker is state Rep. Dave Murphy, R-Greenville. The Hortonville Area Community Choir will participate along with the Hortonville High School band, and Hortonville and Greenville Scouts.

After the school program, all will march to the the Hortonville Veterans Memorial Park on East Main Street for an outdoor program there.

Legion Post 55 will also be participating in an outdoor program at Armitage Park, Medina at approximately 11:15 a.m. on Memorial Day.

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