By Kim McDarison
As is tradition, a crowd of people lined Main Street Monday and gathered in Evergreen Cemetery to participate in Fort Atkinson’s Memorial Day observance events, which included a Marine Observance, parade and observance in Evergreen Cemetery.
Marine Observance
In advance of the parade, a Marine Observance was held near the American Legion Dugout and Banquet Hall.
During the observance and first to arrive at the podium was American Legion Post 166 Commander Joel Osmundson who welcomed observance attendees and introduced the post’s Chaplain Terry Heath who led the ceremonial prayer.
Next, representing several military group, observance participants placed flowers in the Rock River to honor fallen soldiers.
Those placing flowers included: Dee Dee Carothers, who was representing Post 1879 Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Auxiliary; Betty Schelb, who represented American Legion Post 166 Auxiliary; Karen Swader, who represented Chapter 409 of the Vietnam Veterans of America; Nancy Olson, who represented the Daughters of the American Revolution, and Helen O’Neil, who represented Gold Star Mothers.
“In Flanders Field,” a poem written during World War I by Lt. Col. John McCrae, was next read aloud to the observance attendees.
Following the reading, an honor guard fired a salute and a sounding of taps was performed. The Fort Atkinson High School Band, directed by Justin Steger, was on hand to perform the National Anthem.
During Monday’s various activities, taps was sounded by Fort Atkinson High School students Ashlyn Wadsworth and Cal Tamblyn.
Parading to the cemetery
After the Marine Observance concluded, the Fort Atkinson Memorial Day Parade commenced, with honored military guests, scout troops and the Fort Atkinson High School band, among others, moving through downtown Fort Atkinson along Main Street. The parade ended in Evergreen Cemetery, where the Memorial Day observance continued.
Observance at Soldiers Circle
After the parade, speakers arrived at the podium in Evergreen Cemetery set near the facility’s Soldiers Circle.
Commander Archie Hafer, arriving at the podium, welcomed attendees and asked Heath to lead the group in the invocation.
Next at the podium was Fort Atkinson High School Class of 2024 President Rebecca Christ who read aloud the Gettysburg Address. She was followed by the Fort Atkinson High School Class of 2025 President Korynne Kutz, who read aloud Logan’s Orders.
Next at the podium was VFW Post 1879 Surgeon and, according to Osmundson, soon-be-member of American Legion Post 166, Jamil Kahn, who introduced guest speaker Roger Yin, who is a professor at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.
According to information found on the university’s website, Yin is a professor of information technology in the College of Business and Economics. He serves as chief training officer of a U.S. $1.1 million Department of Defense WISECURED Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification grant on defense suppliers of cybersecurity readiness training.
Additionally, Yin, who holds a Ph.D. in instructional systems technology from Indiana University, Bloomington, has more than 20 years invested in teaching IT and cybersecurity-related courses at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, the website states.
Following words shared by Yin, the observance continued with the decorating of the monument in Soldiers Circle in honor of fallen soldiers.
Representatives of several military organizations placed flowers on the monument, including: Osmundson, representing American Legion Post 166; Hafer, representing VFW Post 1879; Steve Swader, representing Chapter 409 of the Vietnam Veterans of America, and Al Olsen, representing Disabled American Veterans.
The Fort Atkinson High School Band played the National Anthem and a color guard offered a gun salute.
The sounding of taps concluded the observance.
Following are photos from the observance in Evergreen Cemetery taken and contributed by Evergreen Cemetery Association Board of Trustees President Brad Wilcox.
The Fort Atkinson Community Girl Scouts arrive at the parade’s end in Evergreen Cemetery.
Scouts leave Main Street and march up the driveway in Evergreen Cemetery towards Soldiers Circle.
Scout leader Bob Cheek arrives in Evergreen Cemetery.
Traveling in the parade by car, guest speakers VFW Post 1879 Surgeon and soon-be-member of American Legion Post 166, Jamil Kahn, back seat, at left, and Roger Yin, who is a professor at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and chief training officer of a U.S. $1.1 million Department of Defense WISECURED Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification grant on defense suppliers of cybersecurity readiness training, arrive at Evergreen Cemetery.
At the podium, one of two Fort Atkinson High School students: the Class of 2024 President Rebecca Christ and the Class of 2025 President Korynne Kutz reads aloud to the audience. The students read the Gettysburg Address and Logan’s Orders.
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater professor Roger Yin, at left, and VFW Post 1879 Surgeon and soon-be-member of American Legion Post 166, Jamil Kahn visit after the observance held in Evergreen Cemetery.
The full honor guard displays flags and rifles during the observance in Evergreen Cemetery.
A young attendee listens to the observance ceremony.
Members of the honor guard offer a gun salute.
The Fort Atkinson High School Band, led by its director, Justin Steger, performs the National Anthem.
Members of the honor guard display flags representing various veterans organizations, POWs and the United States.
Contributed photos/Brad Wilcox.
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