Andrew Brummel to present featured Memorial Day address in Waukon May 30

Andrew G. Brummel of rural Harpers Ferry will serve as featured speaker at the 2011 Memorial Day Observance Program being held at Oakland Cemetery in Waukon Monday, May 30. In addition to the traditional F-16 Fighter Jet Flyover that takes place in conjunction with the program, there will also be Cannon Salutes for POW/MIA Awareness and Civil War Sesquicentennial Recognition that will include the live firing of a black powder cannon and a 12-pound Mountain Howitzer, respectively, by Allen, Linda and Noah Lyon of Waukon.
Monday’s program will begin at 10:30 a.m. at Oakland Cemetery in Waukon, following the traditional parade that begins at 10 a.m. in front of the Allamakee County Courthouse and marches its way to the cemetery. All Veterans are encouraged to participate, a ride will be provided for those Veterans unable to walk the parade route to the cemetery. Anyone wishing to enter a unit in the parade should contact Heather Homewood at the Allamakee County Veterans Affairs Office at 563-568-6135.
Prior to Monday's events, volunteers are needed Saturday, May 28 to help erect the Avenue of Flags along the Allamakee County Courthouse lawn and also along Eleventh Avenue SW south of the City Park. Volunteers are asked to meet in front of the Vets Club to assist from 7-9 a.m. The traditional chicken dinner will be served at the Vet's Hall in Waukon from 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m., with the Avenue of Flags then being retired at 2 p.m.
For more information on the Memorial Day program in Waukon contact Carl Christianson at 563-568-4453.
Brummel initially enlisted as a Reservist in the United States Marine Corps in January of 1958 before transferring to active duty in June 1958. He received his Honorable Discharge from the Marine Corps in June of 1961. Born in rural Sioux County, he graduated from Western Christian High School in Hull in 1956 and attended Dordt College in Sioux Center before enlisting in the Marines.
Upon completion of a teaching degree at Central College in Pella, Brummel taught elementary school in Pella for two years before attaining his Masters degree in Library/Media from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, MI in 1971. His teaching career continued in Los Alamos, NM for six years and at English Valleys School in North English from 1977-1998 before retiring.
He worked as a main entrance greeter at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics from 1998-2004 before purchasing property and moving to his current residence in rural Harpers Ferry. He and his wife are approaching their 49th wedding anniversary.