Memorial Day observances are scheduled on Monday, May 25, in Waupaca, King, Clintonville, New London, Weyauwega, Fremont, Iola, Manawa, Ogdensburg and Hortonville.
Following are the schedules for each community:
Waupaca
The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1037 Memorial Day program will be held on Monday, May 25, at Rotary Riverview Park, behind Main Street. The Ladies Auxiliary waterside ceremony will start at 9 a.m. followed by the VFW program.
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.
For Post 1037, the Memorial Day weekend will start with the placing of flags on veterans’ graves at 5 p.m. Friday, May 22, at Lakeside Cemetery in Waupaca.
Anyone who has a loved one who does not have a veteran flag marker on a grave may get one from the County Veterans Service Office on the third floor of the Waupaca County Courthouse or may check with a VFW member for help getting one.
During the Memorial Day program, Waupaca High School students Kaylee Schmid and Cassie Rasmussen will read The Gettysburg Address and Logans Orders.
Katherine Leaf and Jacob VanVeen will be the buglers for “Taps.”
General Mark Anderson, of the Wisconsin Army National Guard, will be the featured speaker.
Music will be provided by The Waupaca High School Band, under the direction of Mark Kryshak.
In case of inclement weather, the program will be held in the Waupaca High School Performing Arts Center.
King
Memorial Day observances will be held on the grounds of the Wisconsin Veterans Home at King.
The program will begin with a waterside memorial service led by the Women’s Relief Corps at 9:30 a.m., at the Marden Memorial Center.
Following the waterside service, a ceremony will be held at 10 a.m., at the Central Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery.
The Sons of the Union Veterans of the Civil War will perform a re-dedication of the cemetery in honor of the 150th anniversary of the end of the Civil War.
Board of Veterans Affairs Chairman John Townsend will be the keynote speaker.
Volunteers are needed to help place more than 6,500 flags on gravesites at the cemetery.
Those who are interested may report to the cemetery at 6 a.m., Monday, May 25. Staff will be present to distribute flags and provide guidance for new volunteers.
Clintonville
Memorial Day activities will be held in Clintonville and Embarrass on Monday, May 25.
Darwin (Nubby) Higgins will be the parade grand marshall. Richard Kucksdorf, retired colonel, will be the main speaker.
Each year the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars alternate in planning the events. This year the VFW is in charge.
A wreath laying service will be held at 9 a.m. at the bridge in Olen Park, followed by a procession to Graceland Cemetery for the program.
The service will then be repeated in Embarrass. The junior band will go to Bear Creek for the program there.
A homecoming luncheon and program will be held at the Clintonville Community Center at 12:30 p.m.
The Clintonville High School band will perform patriotic music at the cemetery ceremonies.
Anyone wishing to march or enter a float in the parade should contact Mary-Beth Kuester at 715-823-5133. The parade will assemble in Olen Park by 8:30 a.m.
The luncheon will feature music by the Klemp family. Reservations are recommended for the meal by contacting Kuester.
New London
Memorial Day observance in New London will be held at Taft Park at 9 a.m. Monday, May 25, with Don Schmoll serving as master of ceremonies.
Vocalist Carole Zehner will perform the National Anthem, and Eagle Scout Blake Spilman will lead the Pledge of Allegiance. Rep. Kevin Peterson will be the guest speaker. New London High School Band will perform patriotic music.
Members of the American Legion Auxiliary and Claire Schmoll will place a wreath on the river. American Legion, VFW and AMVETS commanders will place wreaths at the memorial and the AMVETS will provide an honor guard salute.
Ryan Watling will perform Taps, followed by a musical selection by the band.
Following the program at Taft Park, there will be a bus available to carry those who wish to attend a brief ceremony at the Floral Hill Cemetery Gazebo. Following the ceremony, participants and quest are invited to the American Legion Post 263 on east North Water Street for refreshments and a snack.
In the event of inclement weather, the ceremonies will be held at the Legion Post on East North Water Street.
Weyauwega
The Weyauwega Memorial Day Parade will be held on Monday, May 25, beginning at 8:30 a.m., at the American Legion Clubhouse on Mill Street.
The American Legion and VFW posts, along with Boy and Girl scouts, the Weyauwega Fire Department and the Weyauwega-Fremont High School Band, will march to Oakwood Cemetery for the memorial service.
Others interested in being a part of the parade are invited to join it.
The Memorial Day program at the cemetery will feature guest speaker Rich Engle, who is a chaplain at the Wisconsin Veterans Home at King.
Music will be provided by the W-F High School Band and Danny Darren duets.
If it rains, the program will be held at 8:45 a.m., at W-F Middle School on Ann Street.
Following the program, the Weyauwega Historical Society will provide a brief presentation commemorating the World War I veterans, including a cemetery walk.
If it rains, Weyauwega’s Memorial Day program will be held at 8:45 a.m., at W-F Middle School on Ann Street.
Fremont
Memorial Day observances will begin at 10 a.m. Monday, May 25, 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 Lakeside Cemetery, along Wolf River Drive.
Legion Post 391 will supervise the cemetery services. The guest speaker will be Jesse Cuff, the Waupaca County Veterans Service officer.
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
Sheveland-Taylor Post 14 of the American Legion sponsors Memorial Day activities in the Iola-Scandinavia area.
The day begins with a veterans honor ceremonty at 10 a.m. at the Scandinavia bridge and cemetery.
The Iola Memorial Day Parade begins at 11 a.m. Monday, May 25, in the Iola-Scandinavia High School parking lot.
The parade will proceed to downtown Iola and then to Veterans Park, where a Memorial Day service will take place. The guest speaker is Dr. Lowell Peterson, who served as a military physician and has written several historical books.
The American Legion Post 14 color guard will fire rifles in tribute to America’s fallen soldiers. The ceremony will conclude with the sounding of Taps.
After the service, the parade will proceed to the Iola Historical Society’s machine shed, at 222 Depot St., for a pig roast from noon to 3 p.m.
All veterans are offered a free dinner in honor of their service. Legion members will note the branch and years of service for each veteran attending.
Spouses and other guests are asked to donate $9 for dinner; the cost is $5 for children age 12 and under.
Manawa
Memorial Day activities in the Manawa area include Royalton Cemetery at 9 a.m., Symco 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.
Entries are required 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
The Hammond-Schmit Post 55 American Legion and Auxiliary will host a Memorial Day Observance at the Hortonville High School Auditorium Monday, May 25 at 9:30 a.m.
The Hortonville High School Band will provide patriotic music, Richard Koehn will provide a tribute to veterans, and Village President Traci Martens will present the Memorial Day Address.
Following the retiring of the colors, there will be an assembly at the Memorial Graves outside at the high school flag pole. Blake Lofy, Nick Lofy and Joe Mocine will place memorial wreaths.
A memorial chorale will perform Battle Hymn of the Republic and members of the band will perform Taps.
Immediately following the assembly at the flagpole, the Legion and Auxiliary Color Guard will lead a march to the Veteran’s Park on Black Otter Lake. A short ceremony will follow and the Boy Scouts will place a wreath on Black Otter Lake.