Memorial Day was officially proclaimed in May of 1868 to as a
way to honor those who died in our nation’s service. Since then,
most communities have held annual observances to honor America’s
fallen soldiers. Following are observances set for Monday around
the area.

Beaver Dam

 The Beaver Dam Memorial Day 2011 Parade theme is “Will you
remember Me, the Veteran.” The parade will be held on Monday with
participants assembling at 8 a.m. in the West Tower Parking
Lot.

At 8:45 a.m. there will be a river ceremony on the bridge in the
Tower Parking Lot.

Starting at 9 a.m. the Exchange Club will hand out flags to
children along the parade route.

The parade will start at approximately at 9:15 a.m. The Marine Corp
League of Beaver Dam is sponsoring the parade this year. The parade
will proceed to Front Street/Park Avenue to Veterans Memorial Park
at Oakwood Cemetery on Highway 33.

The memorial service will be held at Veteran’s Memorial Park at
approximately 10:15 a.m. The service will include the reading of
the names of veterans who have passed away in the past year.

The guest speaker will be retired judge Daniel Klossner. Klossner
served in the U.S. Army in the 25th Infantry Division. In 1970 he
was wounded in Vietnam were he receive a purple heart. He was a
circuit court judge for Dodge County for 24 years.

Bring a lawn chair for the memorial service at the cemetery.

For more information, call Bob Koch at 885-6335, Ross O’Brion at
887-7745 or Lois Levenhagen at 887-0642.

In case of extreme weather the memorial service will be held at the
Veterans Center, 300 Beichl Ave., at 10:30 a.m. and the parade will
be canceled. If there will be a change of locations listen to WBEV
and it will be announced several times between 8 and 9 a.m.

Cambria and Friesland

Friesland will hold a Memorial Day service at 9 a.m. in the
cemetery. There will be a Memorial Day service in Cambria at the
cemetery at 10:15 a.m.

There will be a chicken barbecue at 11:30 a.m. at the Cambria
Conservation Club. The cost is $8 a plate. There will be a trap
shoot from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event is sponsored by American
Legion Post 401 and the Cambria Conservation Club.

Columbus

The Columbus Memorial Day parade will form at the Columbus Middle
School at 9:15 a.m., and at 9:30 a.m. all will march to the
Soldier’s Monument, where a ceremony will take place under the
director of the American Legion Auxiliary.

The parade will then continue to the cemetery where the main
address will be presented by Gunnery Sgt. Michael Gillitzer,
USMC.

In case of inclement weather, the program will be held at the
Columbus Middle School, 400 S. Dickason Blvd.

Fall River

The Fall River Memorial Day program will be held in the high school
auditorium on Monday beginning at 9:30 am.

John C. Brossard VFW Post No. 2219 will receive formal national
recognition on the 50th anniversary of its charter. Guest speaker
for the event will be Rep. Keith Ripp, 47th Assembly District. In
honor of the special occasion, a fallen comrade ceremony is being
planned.

Fall River Elementary School students will lead the pledge of
allegiance. The Fall River High School choir and band will provide
music. Weather permitting, the ceremony will conclude at the
cemetery with a wreath laying ceremony and a poppy tribute.

Following the ceremony, the community is invited to have brats with
the local veterans at a potluck dinner at Savannah Oaks. The VFW
post will be providing brats, hot dogs and beverages.

Please bring a dish to pass and your own place settings.

Fox Lake

American Legion Post 521 will lead a parade on Monday at 10
a.m.

The event will begin at Annunciation Catholic Church and will
proceed to Clausen Park on Hamilton Street (between the cemetery
and the boat landing).

Mayor Tom Bednarek will speak, along with the Rev. Daniel Seehafer,
national chaplain of the American Legion. The Waupun High School
Senior Band will play musical selections.

After the ceremony a dedication of a memorial for Jacob Gassen will
take place at Veterans Memorial Park on State Street. Gassen was
killed in action in Afghanistan.

Horicon

A ceremony will be held on Monday at 10 a.m. at the Van Brunt
School gym. The guest speaker will be LTC Robert Neitzel.

Lowell and Reeseville

Participants will assemble at 7:45 a.m. at the Lowell Cemetery for
a brief ceremony and parade through the downtown, stopping at the
bridge for a tribute to those lost at sea. It will then go to St.
John’s Catholic Cemetery for a brief ceremony and will disassemble
for the drive to Reeseville.

Participants will then assemble at BP Gas Station at 9 a.m. and
parade through downtown to Reeseville Cemetery for a memorial
program. The guest speaker will be second district Legion commander
Don Lechner of Mayville.

Youth organizations and anyone interested may join the
parade.

Juneau

American Legion Juneau Post 15 will host the annual Memorial Day
parade in Juneau May 30 at 11 a.m. The parade will go from downtown
Juneau out to the cemetery, where a ceremony will follow.

Mayville

A parade will be held on Monday at 10 a.m. and run down Main Street
ending at the Mayville American Legion Post 69 on South Main Street
where a ceremony will be held.

Randolph

Randolph will celebrate Memorial Day with a parade and service at
Randolph Cemetery.

Those participating in the parade will gather at Randolph
Elementary School at 9 a.m. The march to the cemetery begins at
9:15 a.m. will go north on High Street to Highway P and turn left
to the cemetery.

Pete Woreck will serve as the featured speaker, with music by the
Randolph High School Band and programs presented by RHS students.
Randolph VFW Post 9510 will raise the flag and offer a gun
salute.

In case of rain the ceremony will be held in the village
hall.

Theresa

American Legion Post 270 of Theresa will visit the following
cemeteries on Memorial Day:

10 a.m. – St. Paul’s in the town of Lomira; 10:15 a.m. – St. Petrie
in town of Theresa; 10:30 a.m. – The River Church in town of
Theresa; 10:45 a.m. – Zion in town of Theresa; 11 a.m. – Hockheim
in town of Herman; 11:30 a.m. – St. Theresa Memorial Gardens in
Theresa; noon – Union Cemetery in Theresa.

It will conclude with a ceremony at the bridge in Theresa. School
children who want to participate should be at the Legion Clubhouse,
101 Church St., at 11 a.m.

Waupun

The Waupun Memorial Day Parade will leave St. Joseph’s Catholic
Church at 9 a.m. Monday heading east on Main Street then north on
Madison Street to Shaler Memorial Park.

At 9:45 a.m. in Shaler Memorial Park, a ceremony honoring all
deceased veterans will follow, with retired Army Reserve Lt. Col.
Dennis Overlien, chaplain of Fox Lake Correctional, giving the
keynote address.

In case of inclement weather the service will be held at the
Community Center on Spring Street.