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Memorial Day

Ceremonies scheduled in area communities

Memorial Day observances are scheduled on Monday, May 28 in Waupaca, King, New London, Clintonville, Weyauwega, Fremont, Scandinavia, Iola, Manawa, Ogdensburg and Hortonville.

Following are the schedules for each community:

Waupaca
The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1037 and Auxiliary will open its Memorial Day program with a waterside ceremony at 9 a.m. Monday, May 28, in Rotary Riverview Park, located behind Main Street in Waupaca.

Those who are able to walk are asked to park on North Main Street and use the ramp to get to the bandstand.

People who do not want to stand may bring lawn chairs.

James Peterson will be the keynote speaker.

The Waupaca High School band will perform under the direction of Mark Kryshak.

The VFW honor guard will fire rifles in honor of those who have fallen in service to their country.

Logan Chelberg and Kelsey Leaf will sound Taps at the end of the ceremony.
In case of inclement weather, the program will be held in Waupaca High School’s performing Arts Center.

King
The Wisconsin Veterans Home in King will start its Memorial Day ceremonies with the flag placement at 6 a.m. Monday, May 28.

A short lakeside service will take place at the Marden Center beginning at 9:30 a.m.

The ceremony is set for 10:30 a.m. at the Central Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery, N2665 County Trunk QQ.

Featured speakers are U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin and Commandant Rich Mapes.

The Waupaca Middle School eighth-grade band will perform under the direction of Shana Rogney.

New London
A ceremony will begin at 9:15 a.m. at Taft Park in downtown New London on Monday, May 28.

After the program, a brief Memorial Day ceremony will take place at the Floral Hill Cemetery gazebo.

In the event of inclement weather, the ceremonies will be held at the Legion Post 263 building, 840 E. North Water St. For more information, call 920-572-0158.

Clintonville
Memorial Day observances will begin at 9 a.m. Monday, May 28, on Memorial Drive in W.A. Olen Park in Clintonville.

After a wreath is placed in the river, the parade will begin at 9:15 a.m.

Ceremonies are set for 10 a.m. in Graceland Cemetery in Clintonville and approximately 11:15 a.m. in Riverside Cemetery in Embarrass.

The keynote speaker for the Memorial Day ceremonies in Clintonville and Embarrass will be Lt. Col. Joseph M. McGrath, a retired U.S. Army veteran.

McGrath was born in Lake County, Illinois, son of a career Air Force sergeant and a combat veteran of World War II and Korea. He was raised on a dairy farm in Chilton, graduating from high school in 1973. He then graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh with a bachelor’s degree and a ROTC commission as second lieutenant in the Army.

He then began a 35-year period of service in the active Army, the Army Reserve and the National Guard. He held various in the artillery, including battalion command. He served as executive officer and operations directorate at a forward operating base in Afghanistan and commanded the Warrant Officer Candidate School.

McGrath was awarded the honorable order of Saint Barbara and inducted into the Legion of Hoosier Heroes by the Indiana National Guard. He was honored by UW-Oshkosh as a distinguished alum and has been nominated for an honorary doctorate degree by that institution.

His military awards include the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Army Commendation Medal with five oak leaf clusters, the Army Achievement Medal with four oak leaf clusters, the Overseas service ribbon, the Combat Action Badge and many others.

McGrath and his wife Lois of 43 years reside in Waupaca. They have two sons and a daughter.

Weyauwega
The Weyauwega Memorial Day Parade will be held on Monday, May 28.

It will start at 8:30 a.m. from the veterans’ clubhouse on Mill Street.

The American Legon and VFW posts, along with the Boy and Girl scouts, Weyauwega Fire Department and Weyauwega-Fremont High School Band, will march to Oakwood Cemetery for the memorial service.

Others interested in being part of the parade are welcome to join it.

The Memorial Day program at the cemetery will feature state Rep. Kevin Petersen as the guest speaker.

Music will be provided by the W-F High School Band and Danny Darren.

If it rains, the program will be held at 8:45 a.m. at W-F Middle School, which is located on Ann Street.

Fremont
Memorial Day observances will begin at 10 a.m. Monday, May 28, in Fremont.

Parade units will assemble at 9:30 a.m. in the Fremont-Wolf River American Legion parking lot behind 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.

The parade will include the American Legion Post 391 Color Guard and flag bearers representing the American Legion Auxiliary; the Weyauwega-Fremont High School Band, under the direction of Andrew Schmidt; village police, the Fremont-Wolf River Fire Department; Fremont-Wolf River Ambulance Services; Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts; 4-H club members; and several antique cars.

Anyone who wants to be part of the parade should assemble at the Legion Hall parking lot prior to the parade.

Services will be held, following the parade, at Wolf River Cemetery, along County Trunk H.
Legion Post 391 will supervise the cemetery services. The guest speaker will be Fremont Village President Dan Sambs.

After the chaplain offers a prayer, students from Fremont Elementary School 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.

A potluck lunch at the Legion clubhouse will follow the ceremony. Those who wish to participate are asked to bring a dish to pass. Grilled sandwiches will be provided.

Iola-Scandinavia
Sheveland-Taylor Post 14 of the American Legion sponsors Memorial Day activities in the Iola-Scandinavia area.

The Memorial Day parade will be at 11 a.m. Monday, May 28, starting at the Iola-Scandinavia High School parking lot and proceeding to Veterans Memorial Park on North Main Street.

Following the service in the park, 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 St.

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.

Manawa
Memorial Day activities in the Manawa area include Royalton Cemetery at 9 a.m., Symco Bridge and Cemetery at 10 a.m., a parade through downtown Manawa at 11 a.m. and Little Wolf Cemetery at 11:30 a.m.

A different speaker will be featured at each site.
Lunch will be served at noon at Union Town Hall, E6592 State Highway 22, Symco, The public is invited.

Entries are needed for the Manawa parade. Veterans are needed to help with the activities.

A van will be available for those who need a ride.

The Manawa area Memorial Day celebrations are sponsored by the Disabled American Veterans Manawa Chapter 53.

For more information, call Charles Vandenplas at 715-823-5335.

Ogdensburg
The Memorial Day program in Ogdensburg will be held in the St. Lawrence Veterans Memorial Park.

The Veterans Memorial Dedication will begin at 10 a.m.

For more information, call Stanley Boutwell at 715-281-5333.

Hortonville
American Legion Post 55 will host Hortonville’s memorial service in the Hortonville High School auditorium, 155 Warner St., at 9:30 a.m.

An assembly will follow outside and culminate with a march to Veteran’s Park for a brief ceremony.

Stephensville
American Legion Post 55 will host a Memorial Day ceremony at Ellington Union Cemetery in Stephensville on Sunday, May 27 at 11:30 a.m.

The cemetery is located at N3420 State Highway 76, just east of the junction with County Trunk MM.

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