Fort Atkinson veterans organizations have announced Memorial Day activities, which include a parade and program at Evergreen Cemetery.
The Memorial Day remembrance on Monday, May 31, will begin with a breakfast at the American Legion Dugout from 6:30 to 10 a.m. Cost for the breakfast, sponsored by the Paul Frank Florine American Legion Post 166 Auxiliary, is $7 for adults; $4 for children age 3-12 and free for children under 3.
Two honor guard cemetery crews will depart from the Legion Dugout at 7 a.m. for rifle salutes at area cemeteries. The west run, commanded by Legionnaire Bob Ehrke, will be at Ward’s Cemetery at 7:20 a.m., North Oakland at 7:33, Oakland at 7:45, Ives at 8:05, Seventh Day Adventist at 8:20, Busseyville at 8:40 and Union at 8:50.
The south run, commanded by Legionnaire Brian Cluver, will be at Lakeview Cemetery at 7:40 a.m., South Koshkonong at 8:10, Cold Spring at 8:40 and Hebron at 9:10.
These are approximate times and may be canceled due to weather.
The marine observance begins at 10 a.m. and will be led by American Legion Post 166 Commander Joel Osmundson with Post Chaplain Roger Faultersak offering the prayer.
Flower strewers for the observance consists of Betty Schelb of the American Legion Post 166 Auxiliary, Faith Elford 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.
The parade will start at approximately 10:25 a.m. at the American Legion Dugout and continue on Main Street to Evergreen Cemetery. Parade marshal is Fort Atkinson’s “Windy” Frohmader.
The parade will feature the Fort Atkinson Honor Guard, Daughters of the American Revolution, military vehicles, Fort Atkinson High School band, parade dignitaries, and ROTC cadets.
The observance at Evergreen Cemetery will begin at 11 a.m. with Commander Osmundson as master of ceremonies. Logan’s Orders will be read by 2021 Fort Atkinson High School Senior Class President Brooke Leibman and the Gettysburg Address will be read by 2022 Senior Class Co-Presidents Abbey Hoffman and Sophie Chapman.
Decorating the monument will be Steve Swader of Chapter 409 of the Vietnams Veterans of America, Rollie Carothers of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1879, and Osmundson of American Legion Post 166. Elly Scheuerell and Mackenzie Horwath of Fort Atkinson High School will play “Echo Taps,” followed by the Fort Atkinson High School Senior band performing the national anthem.
Post 166 Adjutant Richard Miles also will command the Honor Guard for the event.
Flowers for the honor ceremonies are donated by Humphrey Floral & Gift. In case of inclement weather, the Evergreen ceremony will be held at the Legion Dugoput hall.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1879 will have a luncheon starting at noon outside the VFW Clubhouse at N2074 Vets Lane, west of Fort Atkinson.
The “National Moment of Remembrance” resolution passed in December 2000 asks that at 3 p.m. local time, all Americans “voluntarily and informally observe in their own way a moment of remembrance and respect, pausing from whatever they are doing for a moment of silence or listening to ‘Taps.’”
The veteran organizations remind all residents to show respect by flying their flags. If the flag is flown on a flagpole, it should be flown at half-staff until noon, at which time it should be raised fully.
Fort Atkinson Boy Scout Troops 131 and 134 will be placing more than 1,700 American flags on veterans’ graves at Evergreen and Lakeview cemeteries on May 24. Flags are scheduled to be removed on June 7.
The veterans organization asks that those attending its events use preventative measures when interacting with one another to decrease the risk of spreading flu, cold, COVID-19, etc.
For more information about Memorial Day and its origins, visit http://www.usmemorialday.org/backgrnd.html.
Paul Frank Florine American Legion Post 166 Auxiliary Sergeant at Arms Bill Imsland, from left, and Post 166 Adjutant Richard Miles participate as part of an Honor Guard held several years ago in McCoy Park. Miles will command the Honor Guard during an observance at Evergreen Cemetery which is planned as part of this year’s Memorial Day remembrance.
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