Memorial Day activities scheduled to take place in area communities

A variety of Memorial Day activities are being planned for the upcoming holiday weekend, including all the traditional Memorial Day observances this year scheduled for Monday, May 26 in all of the area communities within Allamakee County. Those 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 on this page in their respective highlighted boxes.

WAUKON DETAILS
The 2025 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 at approximately 10 a.m. following the traditional parade that lines up at 9 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 inside the Waukon Event Center at approximately 10 a.m.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Volunteers will be needed to help set up the Avenue of Flags Saturday, May 24, 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.
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.

GRAND MARSHAL
Serving as the Grand Marshal for this year’s Memorial Day Parade will be lifelong Waukon resident Don Haler. The son of George and Phyllis Haler of Waukon, he was born May 3, 1949, and after graduating high school in 1968, he enlisted in the United States Navy.
Don’s boot camp was in San Diego, CA, and he then attended aviation electrician school in Jacksonville, FL. He spent three months in Imperial Beach, CA, learning electrical maintenance on helicopters. His first assignment was at Atsugi, Japan to HC-7 (Helicopter Support Squadron 7) and then to Subic Bay in the Philippines. From there, Don was stationed to different ships off the coast of Vietnam, where the helicopters flew search and rescue missions to rescue pilots and co-pilots that were shot down.
After his discharge in 1972, Don moved back to Waukon and began driving semi-trucks around the country. He met DiAnne Weber and they were married October 11, 1975.  They had two children, Eric and Lisa. Don worked for Allamakee County in the Secondary Roads Department for 30 years before retiring in 2011.
Don has participated in Scouts in Waukon, from being a Webelos leader, to being a Cubmaster, Assistant Scoutmaster and Scoutmaster. He was a board of directors member for the Allamakee Community School District and is a member of the VFW and American Legion.
Don enjoys traveling and spending time with family, including his two grandsons, Eli and Hobbs.

WILL DELIVER MEMORIAL DAY ADDRESS
Jean Brink of Waukon will be delivering this year’s Memorial Day Address at the Observance Program in Waukon Monday, May 26. She was born and raised in Waukon, attending school within and graduating from the Allamakee Community School District.
She married Darryl Brink and was an Army spouse for 21 years. She also joined the Army and served six years as a soldier and the rest of that time as a Department of Defense civilian. While serving, she was awarded many awards and citations, including the Army Commendation Medal, given to members of the Armed Forces who distinguish themselves by heroism, meritorious achievement, or meritorious service.
Jean is the mother of three children, including two who are also retired soldiers. She is also the grandmother of five. She currently owns Ms. B’s in Waukon and loves to sew and craft.

MEMORIAL DAY OBSERVANCE IN WAUKON
MONDAY, MAY 26
• Memorial Day Parade will line up at 9:00 a.m. and begins at 9:45 a.m. in front of the Allamakee County Courthouse on Allamakee Street and travels south down Rossville Road to Oakland Cemetery (weather permitting)
• Memorial Day Observance Program follows the parade, approximately 10 a.m. at Oakland Cemetery (at Waukon Event Center in the event of rain):
    • Invocation: Pastor Abraham Faugstad, King of Grace Lutheran Church
    • National Anthem: Waukon High School Choir Members
    • Pledge of Allegiance: Children volunteers
    • General Logan’s Orders: Jaedyn McGuire, 2025 American Legion Post 62 Boys State Representative
    • Memorial Wreath Laying: DiAnne Haler, VFW Auxiliary Knightley and Catherine Rich, American Legion Auxiliary
    • POW/MIA Recognition Moment of Silence
    • God Bless America: Waukon High School Band
    • Mrs. Poppy: Dorothy Bratrud
    • Miss Poppy: Natalie Rich
    • Gettysburg Address: Bobbi Finney
    • Keep Freedom Alive: Sung by Shane and Bethany Barr
    • Quilts of Valor Presentation: Waukon Patriot Quilters
    • Music Selections: Waukon High School Band
    • Grand Marshal Recognition: Donald Haler
    • PROGRAM ADDRESS: Jean Brink, U.S. Army Veteran
    • Music Selections: Waukon High School Band
    • Rifle Salute: Veterans Rifle Squad Honor Guard
    • Taps: Jean Schon, SSGT. U.S. Army, Retired
    • Announcements and Closing Remarks
    • Benediction: Pastor Abraham Faugstad. King of Grace Lutheran Church
• Master of Ceremonies: Abraham Barr, U.S. Marine Corps Veteran
• Honor Guard: VFW Post 4117 and American Legion Post 62

LANSING MEMORIAL DAY OBSERVANCE
MONDAY, MAY 26

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
TAPS by Brynn Connelly and Berkley Wilwert
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 Mike Verdon
Music Selections: Kee High School Band
Invocation: Pastor James Buckhahn
Gettysburg Address: Nyomi Jones
VFW & Auxiliary Scholarship Essay: Jordan Cota
Roll Call: CMSgt. Cheryl Garin, USAF Ret.
"In Flanders Field": Isaiah Wagner
Address: U.S. Navy Veteran Scott Kaas
Firing Squad: Legion and VFW
TAPS: Evelynn Dibert and Westen Murray
Benediction: Pastor James Buckhahn
If raining, program will be held at Kee High School at 11 a.m.
COMMITTEES
Flags at Lansing Cemeteries: Ron Hogan; Flags on Mt. Hosmer: Dick Roeder, Heather Dehli, John O’Hare; Wexford Cemetery: Ray Wagner; Music: Kee High School Band, Director Liz Bahr

HARPERS FERRY/WATERVILLE MEMORIAL DAY OBSERVANCE
The annual Harpers Ferry/Waterville Memorial Day Parade and Program are scheduled for Monday, May 26, 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.

A Memorial Day Ecumenical Church Service will take place 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. For more information or to make a reservation to enter a float in the parade, contact Cyndi Luster at 608-520-2983 or Karis Walker at 608-415-3162.

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 the Harpers Ferry area who has lost his life in war. The Waukon Middle School Band will provide patriotic music for the event and Hannah Walleser will lead the entire crowd in a community singing of “The Star Spangled Banner”. Ella Homewood, Girls State Citizen for 2025, will ride in the parade and read a patriotic poem. The “They’re More Than a Name on the Wall” pop-up museum will also be present at the Ethel Robinson Meehan Community Center.

Also part of the program will be contributions by American Legion Auxiliary President Karyla “Red” McCune, American Legion Scenic Unit #722 Commander Sherry Mathis and Chaplain Dan Conway, a 21-gun salute by the American Legion Scenic Unit #722 Honor Guard, and Taps played by Russell Hagen of Waterville. Mike and Kathy Whalen will serve as King and Queen of the parade this year, and Charlie Luster will serve as this year’s Parade Grand Marshal.

NEW ALBIN MEMORIAL DAY OBSERVANCE
MONDAY, MAY 26 - 9:00 A.M.
The Memorial Day Observance taking place Monday, May 26 in New Albin will begin at the New Albin Community Center at 9 a.m. The following program will take place:
Invocation: Pastor Allen Hanson
Welcome: VFW Commander Ralph Nelson
Music Selections: Kee Middle School Band
Introduction to Gettysburg Address: John Colsch
Gettysburg Address: Violet Nehman
Music Selections: Kee Middle School Band
Local Veterans Story (Ray Zoll): Gary Thomas
Roll Call of KIA: Leland Moore
Benediction: Pastor Allen Hanson
Announcements: VFW Commander Ralph Nelson

Refreshments will be served at the program by the VFW Auxiliary. Volley and Taps will follow, first at the Veterans Memorial in New Albin City Park and then at St. John’s Wheatland Cemetery, rural New Albin.