Memorial Day activities scheduled to take place in area communities
A variety of Memorial Day activities are being planned for the upcoming holiday weekend, with all local communities returning to their more traditional Memorial Day observances this year Monday, May 30 after some modifications or cancellations over the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The traditions of parades, full cemetery programs and wreath laying are being planned in honor of those who made the ultimate sacrifice in serving their country, with details of some of those celebrations being outlined below on this page.
VETERANS MUSEUM
An anticipated addition to this year’s Memorial Day weekend activities will be the opening of the Allamakee County Veterans Museum in Waukon. As noted in the decorated box at far left on this front page, a dedication ceremony for the opening of the museum is being planned for this Saturday, May 28 at 10 a.m., with other museum details also available in that same decorated listing.
WAUKON DETAILS
The 2022 Memorial Day Observance Program in Waukon is once again being planned to take place at its traditional setting at Oakland Cemetery in Waukon. That program is scheduled to commence following the traditional parade that lines up at 9:15 a.m. and 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 parade will not be held and the observance program will, instead, be held at the Waukon Banquet Center at approximately 10 a.m. Volunteers will be needed to help set up the Avenue of Flags Saturday, May 28, beginning at 8 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 announced on local radio stations. Featured at this year’s Memorial Day Observance Program will be Waukon High School sophomore Azlynn Cota, who will read her winning entry from the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Voice of Democracy Essay Contest. Also new this year will be U.S. Army Marine Corps Veteran Abraham Barr serving as this year’s Master of Ceremonies at the Observance Program.
GRAND MARSHAL
Serving as the Grand Marshal for this year’s Memorial Day Parade in Waukon will be Joe Kroack, a member of American Legion Post 62, Waukon. He served four years in the U.S. Air Force, from January 1963-January 1967, specifically in the area of Electronic Communications. “We would troubleshoot circuits, lines and equipment,” Kroack noted. “I did that for four years in the service and then three years after I was discharged.” Kroack said he began his military service at Lackland Air Force Base before spending about a year and a half each in the Philippines and at McClellan Air Force Base in Sacramento, CA. His time in the Philippines was spent at Clark Air Base, a support base for the Vietnam War efforts. “Although I served during Vietnam, I did not put any boots on the ground there,” he explained. “Still, it was definitely an honor to have served, I really enjoyed the Air Force. It gave me an opportunity to see things overseas that you don’t normally see here at home. It was eye-opening to see how some people have to live, and makes you appreciate what we have here in the United States.” Following his discharge, Kroack worked for the Civil Service in Syracuse, NY performing similar electronics communications duties. After several years, he returned home to the Waukon area to be closer to family, where he has lived his life ever since. His wife, Jean, passed away just over a year ago, and their son, James, also lives in Waukon. Anyone seeking more information on the Memorial Day Observance Program in Waukon should contact Heather Homewood at the Allamakee County Veterans Services Office at 563-568-6135.
Allamakee County Veterans Museum to open this weekend
The Allamakee County Historical Society, Inc., Waukon announces that its new Veterans Museum located at 105 Allamakee Street in Waukon will open Memorial Day weekend on the following schedule:
• Saturday, May 28 - 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. - including a Dedication Ceremony to begin at 10 a.m.
• Sunday, May 29 - 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Monday, May 30 - 12 Noon to 4 p.m.
The Veterans Museum will then be open from Memorial Day to Labor Day for this year, Wednesday through Saturday of each week beginning June 1. Hours of operation are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. It will also be open by appointment for groups and special events. There is no admission or membership charge, but donations to cover costs are appreciated. The Historical Society is a federally recognized non-profit organization operated primarily by volunteers. The museum is located on one floor and is wheel chair accessible. The Veterans Museum was established to preserve, display and study the military service and history of Allamakee County, focusing on the contributions of Allamakee County veterans. A highlight of the museum is an Honor Wall displaying photographs of veterans who were killed in action (KIA) or held as prisoners of war (POW) during all military conflicts involving the United States. Special programs are held monthly throughout the year to commemorate special events and the service of particular veterans. Video programs will also be available for viewing by museum visitors. The museum includes special exhibits based upon the service of Allamakee County veterans in all major military conflicts from the Civil War, Spanish American War, World War I, World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, and subsequent conflicts. Included are uniforms, weapons, photos, memorabilia, and dioramas of battle scenes. The U.S. Navy ship “USS ALLAMAKEE” - YTB-410 was a tugboat commissioned during World War II. The museum’s replica of the ship provides a photo opportunity for families visiting the museum.
Lansing Memorial Day Observance
MONDAY, MAY 30
WEXFORD
7:30 a.m. Legion and VFW Cemetery Service
GETHSEMANE
8:15 a.m. Legion and VFW Cemetery Service
THORNTON MANOR
8:30 a.m. Flag raising by Legion and VFW
MOUNT HOSMER
9 a.m. Flag raising by Legion and VFW
SWEENEY'S BOAT LANDING
10 a.m. Navy Remembrance - Firing Squad
PARADE
10:15 a.m. All active, reserve and former servicemen and women are invited to participate in the parade forming at the corner of Main and Front Streets at the Lansing Fire Station
OAK HILL CEMETERY
11 a.m. The following Memorial Day program will be held immediately upon arrival of the parade at Oak Hill Cemetery
Opening Remarks: Mayor Melissa Hammell
Music Selections: Kee High School Band
Invocation: Pastor Matthew Majewski
“The America I See” - VFW Essay: Brendan Jones
Gettysburg Address: Riley Troendle
"In Flanders Field": Abby Wood
Roll Call: CMSgt. Cheryl Garin, USAF Ret.
Memorial Day Address: Eric Jones
Firing Squad: Legion and VFW
TAPS: Ashlyn Mohn and Carter Verthein
Benediction: Pastor Matthew Majewski
If raining, program will be held at Kee High School at 11 a.m.
COMMITTEES
Flags at Lansing Cemeteries: Allen Stahl; Flags on Mt. Hosmer: Dick Roeder, John O’Hare; Wexford Cemetery: Ray Wagner
Memorial Day Observance in Waukon
MONDAY, MAY 30
• Memorial Day Parade will line up at 9:15 a.m. and begins at 9:45 a.m. in front of Allamakee County Courthouse on Allamakee Street and travels south down Rossville Road to Oakland Cemetery (weather permitting)
• Memorial Day Observance Program follows parade, approximately 10 a.m. at Oakland Cemetery (at Waukon Banquet Center in the event of rain):
• Invocation: Pastor Bryan Robertson, St. John’s Lutheran Church
• National Anthem: Bailey Sherman and Mady Helgerson
• Pledge of Allegiance: Children volunteers
• General Logan’s Orders: Cole Benzing
• Band Selections: Waukon High School Band
• Memorial Wreath Laying: Lindsey & Ella Lund and Cindy Reinhardt, American Legion and VFW Auxiliaries
• POW/MIA Recognition: Moment of Silence
• Mrs. Poppy - Lane Rich
• Miss Poppy - Knightley, Natalie and Catherine Rich
• God Bless America: Waukon High School Band
• Gettysburg Address: Jacob Smith
• Quilts of Valor Presentation: Waukon Patriot Quilters
• Flanders Fields: Ella Homewood
• America the Beautiful: Waukon High School Band
• Veterans Museum Presentation: John Bauercamper, Historical Society
• Grand Marshal Recognition: Joe Kroack
• PROGRAM ADDRESS: Azlynn Cota, Waukon High School, Voice of Democracy Essay winner
• Rifle Salute: Veterans Rifle Squad Honor Guard
• Taps: Jean Schon, SSGT. U.S. Army, Retired
• Announcements and Closing Remarks
• Benediction: Pastor Bryan Robertson, St. John’s Lutheran Church
• Master of Ceremonies: Abraham Barr, U.S. Marine Corps Veteran
• Honor Guard: VFW Post 4117, American Legion Post 62 and Disabled American Veterans Chapter 8
Harpers Ferry/Waterville Memorial Day Observance
The annual Harpers Ferry/Waterville Memorial Day Parade and Program are set for Monday, May 30, with Harpers Ferry Scenic Post #722 American Legion and Auxiliary hosting the event in Harpers Ferry. Legion and Auxiliary members will conduct services at area cemeteries again this year, according to the following schedule: Old East Paint Creek, 7:15 a.m.; Waterville, 7:45 a.m.; Cherry Mound, 8 a.m.; Paint Rock, 8:15 a.m.; Cota Creek Bridge, 8:30 a.m.; and Harpers Ferry Sandy Point Cemetery, 8:40 a.m.
Memorial Day Mass will be conducted by the Hawes brothers, Msgr. Cletus Hawes and Fr. Donald Hawes, at St. Ann-St. Joseph Church in Harpers Ferry, with everyone welcome to attend at 9 a.m. The parade will begin after the service, approximately 10 a.m., with line-up for the parade beginning at 8:30 a.m. Transportation will be provided for those unable to march.
The starting point of the parade will be at the church and it will proceed to the Veterans Memorial, where the Memorial Day Program will be conducted, including the laying of wreaths by the Ladies Auxiliary for each young man from Harpers Ferry and the area who has lost his life in war. The Waukon Middle School Band will provide patriotic music for the event and Jon Michael Payne will sing “ The Star Spangled Banner”. Katerina Kovarik, Girls State Citizen for 2022, will read a short poem about the “Five Sullivan Brothers” of Waterloo. Also part of the program will be American Legion Auxiliary President Gloria Payne, American Legion Scenic Unit #722 Commander Bob Sturch and Chaplain Dan Conway, a 21-gun salute by the men of American Legion Scenic Unit #722, and Taps played by Russell Hagen of Waterville and echoed by Waukon Middle School Band Director Tim Lund.
Bonnie and Leroy Jones of the Ion area will serve as King and Queen of the parade this year, with Jan Kemp-Isen and Al Isen presiding as Parade Grand Marshals. Cyndi Luster, Karis Walker and their families should be recognized for the work their committee has done to put the Memorial Day festivities together, along with the support of the Harpers Ferry community.
For more information or to enter a float in the parade, contact Chairperson Cyndi Luster at 608-520-2983 or by email at cyndipdc@gmail.com.
New Albin Memorial Day Observance
MONDAY, MAY 30 - 9:00 A.M.
Memorial Day Services for New Albin will begin at the New Albin Community Center and will include the Kee Middle School Band playing several songs and graduated Kee High School senior Alex Goetzinger reading the Gettysburg Address. John Colsch and Wayne Meyer will speak about Lt. John Colsch, U.S. Air Force and Warren Meyer, U.S. Marines. Pastor Paul Burgess will provide the Invocation and Benediction.
Volley and Taps will then take place at the Veterans Memorial City Park in New Albin and St. Joseph’s Cemetery, New Albin.
