For most of us, Memorial Day is a three-day weekend that signals summer is almost here.

But Memorial Day also is time to honor and remember United States military veterans who have died, the reason the holiday first was recognized by this country in 1868.

As the American Legion celebrates its 100th anniversary this year, its posts across Kewaunee County are holding ceremonies and services Monday in honor of those deceased veterans, and the public is invited to attend them. Here's a list of some of those special events:

Kewaunee

Kewaunee American Legion Post 29 annually works with other veterans' organizations to present a parade through the city and special program at the War Memorial at the county courthouse Monday morning.

The commemorations started with American flags placed at each deceased veteran’s grave in the two city cemeteries, Riverview and Holy Rosary, during this week.

To open Monday's memorial events, veterans assemble at 9 a.m. at the Post 29 building, Lincoln and Juneau streets, and head to Atrium Post Acute Care of Kewaunee, 1308 Lincoln St., for a service on the grounds at 9:45 a.m.

The veterans then will be joined by a color guard and rifle squad and proceed to Kewaunee High School, 911 Third St., to be part of the parade starting at 10:15 a.m. The high school band, Kewaunee City Fire Department and other units will join the parade.

The procession will head north on Third Street to Riverview Public Cemetery, on Miller Street, for a rifle salute to honor the veterans buried there. The parade will then move east on Miller, south on Second Street, and east on Vliet Street to Holy Rosary Church Cemetery for another rifle salute before heading to the courthouse, 613 Dodge St.

The courthouse program will start at about 11 a.m. and include a playing of "The Star-Spangled Banner" and another musical number by the high school band, an invocation, and a reading by Kewaunee student Remington Schleis.

A roll honoring all veterans buried in the two cemeteries will be placed at the memorial, followed by a reading of the Roll of Honor recognizing all Kewaunee veterans, as well as former resident veterans who have died since Memorial Day 2018 and are interred in the city cemeteries. Members of the Kewaunee Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts will place a cut flower next to the memorial in honor of each veteran, whose family members are welcome to take one in commemoration.

This will be followed by another Roll of Honor for other county veterans who have died since the last Memorial Day but are not interred in the city. A wreath ceremony with members of Kewaunee County AMVETS Post 42 will also be performed, followed by a playing of taps.

Following the ceremony, the public is invited for refreshments and lunch at the Kewaunee Legion building.

All veterans and community organizations are invited to take part in the parade. Rides in the parade will be provided for veterans who need assistance. Grade-school children also can march and will be given an American flag by the Legion post.

Those who wish or need to sit during the courthouse ceremony should bring their own chairs. In the event of inclement weather, the program will be held in the high school gymnasium at 11:15 a.m.

Luxemburg

The American Legion Ralph Kline Post 262 of Luxemburg will visit cemeteries in the area and hold a ceremony and reception in the village.

Two squads of Legion members will visit the cemeteries at five- to 15-minute intervals for short ceremonies consisting of a short prayer, a volley firing and the sounding of taps.

Squad one's schedule is:

• 7 a.m., St. Thomas the Apostle, on County N east of North Sugar Bush Road;
• 7:10 a.m., St. Mary’s Cemetery on County N/Humboldt;
• 7:20 a.m., St. Killian Cemetery, 2508 St. Killian Road, New Franken;
• 7:45 a.m., St. Joseph & St. Theresa, 860 E. State 29, Pilsen;
• 8 a.m., St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery, N4118 County AB, Ellisville;
• 8:15 a.m., St. Mary’s Cemetery, Main Street and Church Road, Luxemburg.

Squad two's schedule is:

• 7 a.m., St. John Lutheran Church, 700 Heritage Road, Luxemburg;
• 7:15 a.m., St. Odiles Catholic Cemetery, on Thiry Daems Road;
• 7:35 a.m., St. Francis de Paul, County Road A, at Duvall;
• 7:50 a.m., St. Louis Catholic Church, N8726 County Line Road, Dyckesville;
• 8:05 a.m., Robinsonville Church, Doris Road, Champion;
• 8:10 a.m., St. Joseph’s Rectory, County K, Champion;
• 8:20 a.m., St. Martins Cemetery, County K at Tonet Road;
• 8:30 a.m., Saint Amand Catholic Church, State 54 and Walhain Road;
• 8:50 a.m., Spiritualist Cemetery on Hillview Road.

Then, at 10 a.m., a brief ceremony will be held at the Veteran's Memorial at the Bank of Luxemburg, 630 Main St. A wreath will be presented to honor all veterans, followed by a rifle salute and taps.

Following the ceremony, a program will be held at 10:30 a.m. at the Community Center on Second Street, with a light lunch and refreshments.

Algoma

Members of Algoma American Legion Post 236 will march in a parade through downtown starting at 10 a.m. from City Hall, 416 Fremont St. Algoma Middle and High School bands will be among the units in the parade.

The parade winds its way to Legion Park, 613 Second St., where a ceremony will be held after the parade (about 11 a.m.) with a speech by Algoma High School student Anthony Naze. The Algoma school bands will provide patriotic music, and the Algoma honor guard will fire World War II-era M1 rifles to honor deceased veterans from the area.

After the ceremony, the public is invited to visit with American Legion members and learn about the history of the post, what the American Legion does and what it offers to the community and its members as an organization.

Contact Christopher Clough at 920-741-7952, 920-562-8900 or [email protected]

This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Memorial Day parades and services in Kewaunee County, 2019