To honor the deceased veterans in their respective communities, the annual Kewaunee Memorial Day observance under the auspices of Kewaunee Post 29 of the American Legion, in cooperation with the various veterans’ organizations of Kewaunee County, will be held on Monday morning, May 29, 2017, at the Courthouse by the Kewaunee County War Memorial.
During the week prior to the Memorial Day observance, flags will be placed at each deceased veteran’s grave in the two city cemeteries.
On Memorial Day, Monday, May 29, 2017, veterans will assemble at the Post 29 American Legion building at the intersection of Lincoln and Juneau Streets at 9:00 a.m. and proceed to the Atrium Post Acute Care of Kewaunee for a Memorial Day service on the Care Center grounds at 9:45 a.m.
After this ceremony, the Color Guard, firing squad, and veterans will proceed to Kewaunee High School to join the Kewaunee High School Band, Kewaunee City Fire Department, and other parade units. The parade will begin at 10:15 a.m. and proceed north on Third Street to Riverview Cemetery for a firing off of Miller Street in memory of, and to honor, all deceased veterans buried in that cemetery. The parade will then proceed east on Miller Street, south on Second Street, and east on Vliet Street to the Holy Rosary Church cemetery where a firing will be held in the center of the cemetery. The parade will then proceed to the Kewaunee County Courthouse.
Immediately after the parade and cemetery ceremonies, beginning at approximately 11:00 a.m., the following program will be held at the Kewaunee County Courthouse:
National Anthem: Kewaunee High School Band
Invocation: Pastor Howard Batt of Grace Lutheran Church
Speaker: Jacob Czech of Kewaunee High School
Musical Selection: Kewaunee High School Band
Placement of Roll honoring all veterans buried in Kewaunee’s Riverview and Holy Rosary Cemeteries.
This will be followed by the reading of the Roll of Honor recognizing all Kewaunee veterans individually, as well as former resident veterans, buried in the Kewaunee cemeteries who have passed away
since Memorial Day 2016. A cut flower will be placed next to the Veterans Memorial area by members of the Kewaunee Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts in honor of each veteran. Upon conclusion of the ceremonies, family members of these veterans are welcome to take a flower in remembrance of this occasion. This Roll of Honor will be followed by the reading of another Roll of Honor for all other Kewaunee County veterans who have passed away since Memorial Day 2016. Reading the Rolls of Honor will be Jane Babcock, Kewaunee County Veterans Service Officer.
A wreath placement ceremony will also be performed at the Veterans Memorial honoring all Kewaunee County servicemen who gave their lives in war. In cooperation with the other veterans’ organizations of Kewaunee County who participate on an alternating basis, the wreath this year will be placed by Robinson American Legion Post 538 Carlton. Taps will then be played.
The Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts are again invited to participate in the parade as they have in previous years, as are the grade school children who will again be presented with a flag by the American Legion.
Anyone attending is requested to bring their own lawn chairs if they wish to be seated during the ceremony.
A special invitation is extended to all veterans and members of civic organizations to participate in the parade and services as a public demonstration of remembrance of all deceased veterans. It is not only a privilege, but also the individual responsibility of everyone to remember our deceased veterans and those still living. Automobiles will be provided for those veterans who wish to ride in the parade.
In the event of inclement weather, the program will be held at the Kewaunee High School gymnasium at 11:15 a.m.
Immediately following the ceremony on the Courthouse grounds, the public is invited by the American Legion for refreshments and lunch at the Kewaunee Legion Building.
The community is reminded that anyone having an American flag that is no longer serviceable may deliver that flag to any of the Kewaunee banks or any member of Kewaunee Legion Post 29 to arrange drop-off. The Legion Post will store the flags until they can be respectfully disposed of in a formal ceremony. There is also a drop-off “mailbox”, painted with an American flag, located in front of the Kewaunee Legion Building where you can drop off your old flags.
