KEWAUNEE COUNTY - Memorial Day means a day off work or school, the unofficial early start of summer and the chance to take a day trip or fire up the grill for many.
But, it's important to remember the reason Memorial Day has been recognized since 1868 — to honor and remember United States military veterans who have died.
Monday, local American Legion posts will hold ceremonies and services across the county in honor of those deceased veterans, and the public is invited to attend them. Here's some of those special events for which we had information at press time.
Kewaunee American Legion Post 29, in cooperation with other veterans’ organizations in the county, is holding a parade 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 during this week.
On Memorial Day, veterans will assemble at 9 a.m. at the Post 29 building, Lincoln and Juneau streets, and proceed to Atrium Post Acute Care of Kewaunee, 1308 Lincoln St., for a service on the grounds at 9:45 a.m.
Afterward, a Color Guard, rifle squad and veterans will proceed to Kewaunee High School, 911 Third St., to take part in a parade starting at 10:15 a.m. that also features the school band, Kewaunee City Fire Department, and other units.
The parade 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 proceed 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," invocation and speaker, placement of a roll honoring all veterans buried in the two cemeteries, and a reading of the Roll of Honor recognizing all Kewaunee veterans individually, as well as former resident veterans, buried in the cemeteries who have passed away since Memorial Day 2017. A cut flower will be placed next to the memorial area by members of the Kewaunee Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts in honor of each veteran. Family members of these veterans are welcome to take a flower in remembrance of this occasion.
This Roll of Honor will be followed by another Roll of Honor for other county veterans who have passed away since Memorial Day 2017. A wreath ceremony with members of Legion Ralph Kline Post 262 of Luxemburg will also be performed at the memorial for the county servicemen who gave their lives in war. "Taps" will then be played.
Immediately following the ceremony, the public is invited for refreshments and lunch at the Kewaunee Legion building.
Those who wish or need to sit during the 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.
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 prayer, a volley firing and the sounding of "Taps." One squad will visit St. Thomas the Apostle in Sugar Bush, St. Mary's in Humboldt, St. Killian in New Franken, St. Joseph in Pilsen, St. Paul in Ellisville and St. Mary's in Luxemburg between 7:15 and 8:30 a.m.
The other squad will visit St. John in Luxemburg, St. Odile in Thiry Daems, St. Francis de Paul in Duvall, St. Louis in Dyckesville, Robinson Presbyterian in Champion, St. Joseph's in Champion, St. Martin's in Tonet, St. Amand in Walhain and French Spiritualist in Walhain from 7:10 to 9 a.m.
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.
Members of Algoma American Legion Post 236 will march in a parade through downtown starting at 10 a.m. from Algoma Elementary School, 514 Fremont St.. Algoma school bands will be among the other 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 10:15 a.m.) with speakers and music.The Legion post's Poppy Princesses, Alexis and Lillian Klimek, will be at the park ceremony to distribute poppies.
This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Memorial Day ceremonies and services in Kewaunee County
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