By Kim McDarison
Fort Atkinson veterans organizations have announced Memorial Day activities, which include a parade and program at Evergreen Cemetery.
The Memorial Day observance, which will be held Monday, May 29, will begin with a breakfast at the American Legion Dugout, 201 S. Water St., Fort Atkinson, at 6:30 a.m.
Cost for the breakfast, sponsored by the Paul Frank Florine American Legion Post 166 Auxiliary, is $7 for adults; $4 for children ages 4-12 and free for children under 4, according to information released by the veterans organizations. Breakfast will include scrambled eggs, pancakes, sausage, hash browns, juice, milk and coffee.
Two honor guard cemetery crews will depart from the Legion Dugout for rifle salutes at area cemeteries. The west run will be departing from the Legion Dugout at 7 a.m., and will visit the following cemeteries: Wards Cemetery, 7:20 a.m.; North Oakland Cemetery, 7:33 a.m.; Oakland Cemetery, 7:45 a.m.; Ives Cemetery, 8:05 a.m.; Seventh Day Advent Cemetery, 8:20 a.m.; Bussyville Cemetery, 8:40 a.m., and Union Cemetery, 8:50 a.m.
The south run will be departing from the Legion Dugout at 7:20 a.m. and will visit the following cemeteries: Lakeview Cemetery, 7:40 a.m.; South Koshkonong Cemetery, 8:10 a.m.; Cold Spring Cemetery, 8:40 a.m., and Hebron Cemetery 9:10 a.m.
The marine observance begins at the Legion Dugout at approximately 10 a.m., slated to take place after breakfast but before the parade, according to its organizers, and will be led by American Legion Post 166 Commander Joel Osmundson with Post Chaplain Steve Leggett offering the prayer.
Flower strewers for the observance consist of Betty Schelb of the American Legion Post 166 Auxiliary, Sue Gisler of the Edwin Frohmader Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1879 Auxiliary, Karen Swader of Chapter 409 of the Vietnam Veterans of America, Nancy Olson of the Daughters of the American Revolution and Helen O’Neil of the Gold Star Mothers.
Other observance participants include: Leggett, who will be reciting “In Flanders Fields,” a war poem in the form of a rondeau, written during World War I by Canadian physician Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae; a call to the honor guard and 21-gun salute will be led by Richard Miles;
Taps will be sounded by buglers and Fort Atkinson High School senior Lorena Ramirez and junior Ashlyn Wadsworth; the National Anthem will be played by the Fort Atkinson High School Band and the American flag will be raised while the band is playing. Closing remarks will be delivered by Osmundson.
This year’s parade marshal is Jefferson resident and U.S. Navy veteran Don Rueth.
The parade will start at approximately 10:30 a.m. at South Water Street, continuing on Main Street, with an anticipated arrival time of 10:55 a.m. at Evergreen Cemetery, 1105 N. Main St., Fort Atkinson.
The Memorial Day observance at the cemetery is planned to begin at 11 a.m.
The observance at the cemetery will include opening remarks made by Osmundson, followed by an invocation delivered by Leggett, and the reading of the Gettysburg Address by Fort Atkinson High School Class of 2024 President Rebecca Christ and the reading of Logan’s Orders by Fort Atkinson High School Class of 2023 President Jack Schepp.
Next, Major Eric Schultz and Wisconsin Veterans of Foreign Wars Commander Michele Rathke will each deliver a speech.
Decorating the monument this year will be Imsland, Osmundson, Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 409 representative Steve Swader, and Disabled American Veterans representative Al Olsen.
A benediction, led by Leggett, will follow.
Other participants in the observance include: Miles, serving as honor guard commander and the Fort Atkinson High School Band, playing the National Anthem.
The observance will conclude with remarks made by Osmondson.
Following the ceremony, lunch will be served at noon at the VFW.
Features of this year’s parade include the Fort Atkinson Honor Guard, military vehicles, the Fort Atkinson High School Marching Band, local boy and girl scout troops, and other special guests, including Rathke and Wisconsin Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary President Faith Elford.
Flowers for the observances have been donated by Humphrey Floral LLC, according to observance organizers.
In the case of inclement weather, the ceremony slated to be held in Evergreen Cemetery will be moved to the American Legion Hall.
In advance of the observance, organizers noted, Fort Atkinson Boy Scouts of America Troop 134 and Pack 137 have placed some 1,800 American flags near the graves of veterans in both Evergreen and Lakeview cemeteries. The flags will be removed by June 15.
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What site is the Marine Observance?
The marine observance is held at the Legion Dugout, 201 S. Water St., Fort Atkinson.