Lt. Col. James “Joe” Emerson to deliver Memorial Day address in Waukon; Parade could be impacted by ongoing road construction

The 2019 Memorial Day Observance Program being held at Oakland Cemetery in Waukon Monday, May 27 is scheduled to commence following the traditional parade that begins at 9:45 a.m. in front of the Allamakee County Courthouse and marches its way to the cemetery. In the event of rain, the program will be held at the Waukon Banquet Center.

In addition to the weather, road construction in the downtown Waukon area may prevent the traditional parade from taking place as well. Should the construction work on Allamakee Street and/or Main Street prevent the parade from beginning at its traditional County Courthouse point of origin, plans are to begin the parade at the St. Patrick School parking lot and travel east down the hill toward Rossville Road and then south to Oakland Cemetery. Should weather and/or road construction not fully cooperate, the Memorial Day Observance Program will be scheduled for 10 a.m.

Volunteers will be needed to help set up the Avenue of Flags Saturday, May 25, beginning at 7 a.m. Those efforts will begin at the Allamakee County Courthouse in Waukon. Any changes in plans regarding the parade, observance ceremony or Avenue of Flags will be made on local radio stations.

FEATURED SPEAKER AND GRAND MARSHAL
James “Joe” Emerson will serve as both this year’s Memorial Day Parade Grand Marshal and the featured speaker for the 2019 Memorial Day Observance Program. Joe was born in La Crosse, WI and grew up on the family farm near Waterville, son of the late Ollie and Chris Emerson. He attended the Waterville School through junior high and graduated from Waukon High School in 1966. Following graduation, he attended Wisconsin State University in La Crosse.

While going to college, Emerson worked part-time jobs to earn his Private Pilot License. After a year in college, he enlisted in the U.S. Army in August 1967. After completing Basic Combat Training at Fort Polk, LA, he completed Helicopter Pilot qualification training and commissioned as a Warrant Officer. Emerson served two tours in Viet Nam as a Helicopter Pilot.

During his first tour (1968-1969) in the 187th AHC, he flew out of the Tay Ninh Base Camp near the Cambodian border. The 187th AHC, known as the “Crusaders,” flew the UH1D/H Huey, the UH1-C and AH-1G Cobra Gunships. His second tour was in the 147th ASHC, a Chinook Unit, where he flew CH-47 B/C aircraft. During the two tours he served as a Pilot, Instructor Pilot, Standard Instructor Pilot and flew over 2,100 combat hours of the more than 6,000 flight hours he logged during his military service.

Following his tours in Viet Nam, Emerson continued his U.S. Army Service in Texas, Alabama, Kentucky, Hawaii, Missouri, Kansas, Virginia, Germany and Korea.  He served as a Platoon Commander, Company Commander, Aviation Advisor, Staff and Executive Officer and Program Manager (PM). One of his PM assignments included the development, testing and fielding of Special Electronic Aircraft.  The second Program Manager assignment required development, testing and fielding of the Stinger Missile on Army Helicopters.

Emerson retired from the U.S. Army in 1993 with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel after over 25 years of service with numerous awards and decorations, including the Legion of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star Medal, Order of the Purple Heart, and 59 Air Medals. He then flew Medical Flight Helicopters and went to work at Northrop Grumman (a U.S. Defense contractor). He served as a Program Manager on five different Defense Programs during his time with Northrop Grumman.

He retired from Northrop in 2014 and returned to Waukon to help take care of his father.  Today he lives with his wife, Mary, on the home farm near Harpers Ferry. Both Joe and Mary do volunteer work for the Army Aviation Heritage Foundation, a Flying Museum out of Hampton, GA. This allows Joe to continue flying the Huey. In addition, Joe helps in the farming operations.

Anyone seeking more information on the Memorial Day Observance Program in Waukon should contact Heather Homewood at the Allamakee County Veterans Affairs Office at 563-568-6135.