Local Memorial Day services planned
Local American Legion posts will hold their annual Memorial Day activities this coming week, honoring military personnel who have died in service of the country.
Elkader
Elkader’s Lemke-Stendel American Legion Post #106 is seeking help in putting up flags at the Clayton County Courthouse for Memorial Day weekend. Flags will be put up at 6 p.m. on Friday, May 28. Volunteers should meet at the shed behind the Clayton County Development Group building, 200 E. Bridge St. Take down will be at 6 p.m. on Monday, May 31.
On Memorial Day, May 31, the Post will hold its traditional military celebrations at St. Joseph’s, Veterans Memorial and East Side cemeteries. The last stop will be at the courthouse. The programs will begin at 9:30 a.m.
Garnavillo
American Legion Clay-Gar Post #723 is seeking volunteers to help put up 132 flags for the Avenue of Flags at the Garnavillo City Park on Friday, May 28, at 9 a.m. Take down will be at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, June 1, weather permitting.
This year’s service will be held on May 31, at 11 a.m., at the Garnavillo school gym. Flags and the POW-MIA banner will be posted, and the Clayton Ridge Band will play. The featured speaker will be Max Abildtrup (U.S. Marine Corps.) The service will also include a roll call of deceased Auxiliary members, introduction of Boys and Girls State attendees Joseph Schmelzer and Danyel Reick and recognition of Gold Star families. The chaplain will read a list of newly deceased veterans and the commander will read roll call of deceased veterans past. After the service in the gym, members will reform at the veterans memorial at the city park for the placing of a wreath, 21-gun salute, Taps and retirement of colors.
American Legion Clay-Gar Post #723 will hold its next meeting on Thursday, June 3, at 7 p.m., at the Garnavillo Community Center. The group will discuss the flag burning ceremony, which will be held on Saturday, June 5, at 9 a.m., at the Clayton County Fairgrounds.
Guttenberg
Residents will pay tribute to veterans both living and dead at the community’s annual Memorial Day program on Monday, May 31, at the Guttenberg Area Veterans Memorial in Ingleside Park. There will be no parade this year, and a shortened program is planned. All attendees are asked to space themselves and observe current COVID-19 protocols.
Veterans should meet at the memorial at 9:30 a.m. Color bearers and the firing squad should assemble west of the monument. The band will stand behind and north of the monument.
Dennis Hanna will serve as master of ceremonies, and Legion chaplain Barbara Arthur will give the invocation. Hanna will announce the Service Person of the Year, who will have the honor of placing the wreath at the monument. The firing squad will give the traditional salute for the dead, followed by Taps by Craig Tuecke. The Clayton Ridge High School band will play the national anthem. Quilts of Valor made by local quilters will be presented to military veterans as announced by Rosalie Kickbush. The program will close with a benediction by Arthur.
Harpers Ferry/Waterville
The annual Harpers Ferry/Waterville Memorial Day Parade and Program are set for Monday, May 31, with American Legion Scenic Post #722 hosting the event in Harpers Ferry. Legion and Auxiliary members will conduct services at area cemeteries according to the following schedule: Old East Paint Creek at 7:15 a.m., Waterville at 7:45 a.m., Cherry Mound at 8 a.m., Paint Rock at 8:15 a.m., Cota Creek Bridge at 8:30 a.m. and Harpers Ferry Sandy Point Cemetery at 8:40 a.m.
Memorial Day Mass will be held at St. Ann-St. Joseph Church in Harpers Ferry with everyone welcome to attend at 9 a.m. The parade will begin directly after the service, at approximately 10 a.m.
Parade line up starts at 8:30 a.m., and transportation will be provide for those unable to march in the parade. The starting point will be at the church and it will proceed to the veterans memorial, where the Memorial Day program will be conducted. The Allamakee Junior High Ban will provide patriotic music for the event. Post #722 will present the colors and give the gun salute, the Legion Auxiliary will place wreaths and Taps will be played.
The Legion and Auxiliary will also sponsor the annual pork chop dinner at the Harpers Ferry Community Center on Monday, beginning at 11 a.m.
For more information or to enter a float in the parade, contact Bonnie Jones at (563) 535-7429.
Lansing
Services will be held on May 31 at Wexford at 7:30 a.m., Gethsemane at 8:15 a.m., Thornton Manor at 8:30 a.m., Mount Hosmer at 9 a.m. and Sweeney’s Boat Landing at 10 a.m. The parade will begin at 10:15 a.m., forming at the corner of Main and Front streets at the fire station.
The program will be held at Oak Hill Cemetery at 11 a.m., and include opening remarks by mayor Kyle Walleser, music selections from the Kee High School Band, invocation by Rev. Sean Smith and readings of the “Gettysburg Address” by Owen Henkes and “In Flanders Field” by Abby Wood. That will be followed by roll call, an address from Pat Wagner, firing squad, the playing of Taps and benediction. If raining, the program will be held at Kee High School at 11 a.m.
McGregor
McGregor’s Pocket City American Legion Post #267 will put up the flags on Main Street, with help from the local Boy Scouts, at 4 p.m. on Friday, May 28. The Avenue of Flags at Pleasant Grove Cemetery will be erected at 8 a.m. on May 29.
The Memorial Day services will be held on Monday, May 31, starting at the McGregor riverfront at 10:30 a.m. Here, a wreath will be laid in the water, service members will perform a 21-gun salute and the MFL MarMac band will play. A program with a speaker and gun salute will follow, at 11 a.m., at Pleasant Grove Cemetery.
