WISCONSIN — Memorial Day weekend is almost here. Cities across the Badger State are holding ceremonies and observations on Monday, May 27 to honor those who died serving the country.
Here’s a look at some of those events.
Milwaukee area
Milwaukee
*May 24 at 11 a.m. | Veterans Park
Volunteers will be placing 27,316 flags at Veterans Park near the War Memorial Center to honor the number of Wisconsinites killed in action.
*This event will be held on Friday, May 24 instead of on Memorial Day.
9:25 a.m. | Wood National Cemetery
There will be a pre-ceremony concert from the Milwaukee American Legion Band beginning at 9 a.m.
Memorial Day at Forest Home Cemetery
11 a.m. | Forest Home Cemetery
The event starts with a memorial service in the Ferry and Clas chapel, followed by a wreath-laying ceremony in the Garden of Honor. Guests can also enjoy stories for the cemetery with costumed historical re-enactors. Food will also be available for purchase.
New Berlin
11 a.m. | Highland Memorial Park Cemetery
The service will begin in Section 16, which is on the southwest corner of the cemetery. A presentation will be given by the New Berlin Hoeppner-Horn Bros, a gun salute to veterans, a balloon release and more.
Waukesha
8 a.m. | various locations
The city is hosting several events this Memorial Day. There will be an Avenue of Flags at Prairie Home Cemetery at 8 a.m. at 605 S. Prairie Ave. At 10 a.m., there will be a river service at the Veterans Park, 710 N. West Ave. At 11 a.m., the city will host a Memorial Day service at Cutler Park. There will be no parade this year.
West Allis
Memorial Day Observation Ceremony
11 a.m. | Veterans Memorial Park
The ceremony will feature patriotic songs sung by the Nathan Hale Choir, a flag ceremony, a rifle salute, a Taps performance, a veterans tribute by Karl Stuvengen and more.
Mount Pleasant
9:30 a.m. | West Lawn Memorial Park
This event will give special recognition to veterans interred at West Lawn Memorial Park in the past year. It will also have patriotic music, readings and a dove release.
Brookfield
10 a.m. | Wisconsin Memorial Park
Brookfield is honoring Memorial Day with a day-long schedule of events at Wisconsin Memorial Park, starting with a performance by the Lake Country Bass Quintet at the Fountain Quad at 10 a.m. Other performances include the Knight Wind Ensemble and Milwaukee Metropolitan Community Concert Band in the Chapel of the Chimes in the afternoon. Hamburgers and hot dogs will be available for purchase. There are many other events as well.
Madison area
Madison
2 p.m. | Sunset Memory Gardens
The annual program will include an invocation, a Sunset Memory Gardens roll call, placing of a memorial wreath, a Memorial Day address by a military officer, a departed veterans roll call and more. More than 1,500 flags will be placed at each veteran’s grave and there will be hundreds more along the road. Visitors are encouraged to bring their own chairs.
Cross Plains
Cross Plains Memorial Day Chicken BBQ
9 a.m. | American Legion Post 245
Remington’s Tavern starts the day at 9 a.m. with a Bloody Mary, mimosa and lemonade bar. The Cross Plains Area Chamber of Commerce and American Legion Unit 245’s parade will begin at 11 a.m. Following the parade, the American Legion will begin its program and chicken dinners will be ready for pickup starting at 12:15 p.m.
Sun Prarie
Sun Prairie Memorial Day Parade & Service
10 a.m. | VFW Post 9362
The parade will start at the high school and will wind down Main Street to Market Street. After the parade, Post 333 will have a Memorial Day service at 11 a.m. to recognize those who have served. It will have local community members that have served in the military. Seniors from Sun Prairie High School band will be performing music for the service.
Monona
10 a.m. | Monona Drive
The annual Memorial Day Parade will take place along Monona Drive, starting at Monona Grove High School and going south to Sennett Middle School. It ends at noon.
Green Bay area
Green Bay
Memorial Day Green Bay Botanical Garden
9 a.m. | Green Bay Botanical Garden
Veterans and military personnel enjoy free admission at the Garden, including access to our new Carol & Bruce Bell Children’s Garden.
Appleton
Appleton Memorial Day Parade & Moment of Remembrance
9 a.m. | Riverside Cemetery and Chapel Appleton
The parade starts at the corner of College Avenue and Appleton Street, heads east on College Avenue to Meade Street, north on Meade Street to Pacific Street, east on Pacific Street to the entrance of Appleton’s historic Riverside Cemetery. Immediately following the parade will be the annual “Moment of Remembrance” ceremony inside the cemetery. Another shorter ceremony will take place at the Appleton American Legion Post No. 38 plot.
Manitowoc
Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony
9 a.m. | Downtown Manitowoc
The parade will end at Veteran’s Memorial on N. 18th Street, where a ceremony will be held. In the event of rain, the ceremony will be held indoors at Citizen Park Recreation Center and would begin at 10:30 a.m.
Fond du Lac
Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony
10 a.m. | Veterans Park
This parade is hosted by the Disabled American Veterans and will begin at the corner of Rees and Main Streets, going south on Main Street and ending at Veterans Park. There, a ceremony will be held at 11:30 a.m. with speaker retired Master Gunnery Sgt. Doug Fraser.
Across Wisconsin
Eau Claire
9:30 a.m. | Wilson Park
The Memorial Day Parade will start in Wilson Park and end in the Haas Fine Arts parking lot. A program will follow at Owen Park. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own chairs.
Sparta
Memorial Day Parade and Ceremonies
10 a.m. | Water Street
Hosted by the Sparta Area Chamber of Commerce and the Sparta VFM Post 211, the parade will begin at South Water Street and go to Blyton Park. The ceremony will be held there after the parade and another held at Perch Lake by the VFM directly after the Blyton Park ceremony.
Wausau
Memorial Day Remembrance Program
11 a.m. | Restlawn Memorial Park
The Remembrance Service and Program will feature guest speaker Colonel Daid Monk. Guests are encouraged to bring their own chairs.
Oconomowoc
10 a.m. | City Beach
The remembrance begins with a ceremony at City Beach band shell with the Oconomowoc American Legion Band. There will then be a processional through downtown. A stop will be made on the bridge on Walnut Street for a ceremonial wreath tossing at the end of the event.
This is not a complete list of Memorial Day services and events. To see if your town or city is hosting a celebration, visit your local government website or check with local veterans’ organizations.