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
The Lemka-Stendel American Legion Post #106 in Elkader traditionally remembers Memorial Day on Monday, May 30, by honoring the post’s namesake veterans, who were both killed at the time of the signing of the Armistice ending World War I. Both men are buried in Elkader and the American Legion continues to honor them by identifying them in the name of the American Legion Post.
The remembrance starts at 9:30 a.m. at St. Joseph Cemetery, proceeds to the veterans memorial near the city park and continues to the East Side Cemetery. It concludes at the Clayton County Courthouse, where a wreath will be placed by the American Legion Auxiliary at the veterans memorial.
American Legion Post #106 invites the public to attend these remembrances despite the bridge being temporarily being closed.
Garnavillo
The public is invited to attend a Memorial Day program at 11 a.m. at the Clayton Ridge School gymnasium in Garnavillo. The program will feature music by the Clayton Ridge band and a speaker. The Clay-Gar American Legion Post 723 is in charge of the program.
Following the program at school, the observance will continue at the veterans memorial in the Garnavillo City Park, weather permitting. A wreath will be placed and a chaplain will say a prayer, followed by “Taps” and a gun salute.
American Legion Clay-Gar Post#723 is seeking volunteers to help put up the Avenue of Flags at the Garnavillo City Park on Thursday, May 26, at 8 a.m.
Guttenberg
Guttenberg area residents will pay tribute to veterans both living and dead at the community’s annual Memorial Day program on Monday, May 30, at 10 a.m., at the Guttenberg Area Veterans Memorial in Ingleside Park. This year’s observance will be similar to last year’s—there will be no parade, but a short program is planned.
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.
Dan Murray will serve as master of ceremonies, and Legion Chaplain Barbara Arthur will give the invocation. Murray 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 Barbara Arthur.
McGregor/Marquette
Members of American Legion Post 267 of McGregor and Post 305 of Marquette will honor the memory of all deceased military men and women on Monday, May 30, with a series of special events.
Families, friends and visitors are encouraged to attend a brief memorial service at St. Mary Catholic Cemetery in McGregor at 10 a.m. The official Memorial Day program will be at 11 a.m. near the Avenue of Flags at Pleasant Grove Cemetery, McGregor.
This year’s events include two special presentations: Mariah Moser, daughter of Jonathon and Cheri Moser, will deliver the Gettysburg Address, and Mattie Hallberg, daughter of Jason Becker and Janet Hallberg, will recite the poem “In Flanders Field.” Both will be presented with the American Legion Oratory Award. These students were nominated and selected by a group of their teachers.
Lt. Col. (retired) Beth Shafer from Waukon will deliver the keynote address. Shafer worked as a personnel office, C-130 instructor pilot and a liaison officer in the Air Force and Air Forces Reserve. She retired in 2012 as a senior pilot with over 2,700 hours.
The week prior to the Memorial Day program, Legion members and volunteers will place flags on veteran graves, with special recognition given to those killed in combat.
On Friday, May 27, Post 267 is sponsoring a Rooster Andy’s Chicken BBQ in the parking lot of Nelson’s Tru Value in Prairie du Chien, Wis., from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. All proceeds will support local veteran programs. Anyone interested should contact McGregor Legion members to purchase tickets in advance.
