American Legions in Pierce County will host Memorial Day observances on Monday, May 29. Memorial Day is a day for remembrance for those who have died in service to our country.

According to PBS, Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day because of the early tradition of decorating graves with flowers, wreaths and flags. Gen. John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic proclaimed the first widely observed Memorial Day on May 30, 1868 to commemorate the sacrifices of Civil War soldiers. Ohio Congressman James Garfield made a speech at Arlington National Cemetery that first Memorial Day; 5,000 participants then helped decorate 20,000 Union and Confederate soldiers’ graves. New York was the first state to designate Memorial Day a legal holiday in 1873.

After World War I, Memorial Day became a day to honor those who died in all of America’s wars. In 1971, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act and Memorial Day has been held the last Monday in May.

Ceremonies will be held by the following area American Legions.

Elmwood

The Crain-Ottman American Legion Post 207 and Auxiliary Unit 207 will hold their Memorial Day program on May 29, 2023, at the Veteran’s Memorial Park in Elmwood. This year’s speakers are 52-year Legion Member Gregory Baskin and Sgt. Logan Butler. The schedule for the outlying cemeteries is as follows:

St. John’s Lutheran: 8:15 a.m.

Oak Ridge: 8:30 a.m.

Spring Lake: 8:50 a.m.

Sacred Heart: 9:30 a.m.

Old Rock Elm: 9:45 a.m.

Poplar Hill: 10 a.m.

Welcome Home Assisted Living: 10:20 a.m.

Veterans Memorial Park: 11 a.m.

All Legion and Auxiliary members who plan on going to all the cemeteries, please be at the Elmwood Auditorium by 7:45 a.m. Departure time will be 8 a.m. Please bring your own chair as they will not be provided.

Ellsworth

The Kinne-Engelhart American Legion Post 204 and Auxiliary will visit area cemeteries on May 29, 2023 prior to a parade at 9:45 a.m. beginning at the Legion Hall (139 S. Oak St.), following Main Street and Chestnut Street to Ellsworth High School (323 Hillcrest St.) The cemetery schedule is as follows:

Squad #1: 7:45 a.m. at Maple Grove, 8 a.m. at United Church of Christ, 8:25 a.m. at Zion Covenant, 8:45 a.m. at Old Clayfield, 9 a.m. at Clayfield

Squad #2: 7:45 a.m. at St. Francis, 8 a.m. at Thurston Hall, 8:15 a.m. at Beldenville, 8:35 a.m. at Beldenville Civil War Grave, 8:50 a.m. at El Paso, 9:05 a.m. at Lost Creek

Squad #3: 7:45 a.m. at Hartland Presbyterian, 8 a.m. at Bethlehem Lutheran, 8:24 a.m. at Bethel Covenant (Moeville) and 8:55 a.m. at Trimbelle.

A special program will be held at 10:15 a.m. at Ellsworth High School’s Cafetorium, followed by a free lunch at 11:30 a.m. at the Legion Hall. All are welcome to attend.

Maiden Rock

The William E. Geer American Legion Post 158 in Maiden Rock also has a full slate of Memorial Day observances on May 29. They will visit the following cemeteries/locations:

Little Plum: 7:25 a.m.

Frankfort: 7:40 a.m.

Porcupine: 7:55 a.m.

Moravian: 8:25 a.m.

Old Sabylund: 8:35 a.m.

New Stockholm: 8:50 a.m.

Old Stockholm: 9:05 a.m.

Oakwood Pepin: 9:30 a.m.

New Sabylund: 10 a.m.

Swedish Methodist: 10:15 a.m.

Maiden Rock: 10:45 a.m.

Lake Pepin lakeshore – Maiden Rock: 11 a.m.

Plum City

Frank Gilles American Legion Post No. 365 and Auxiliary Unit No. 365 are gearing up for their 2023 Memorial Day Service on Monday, May 29. 

As part of the 2023 Memorial Day Service, Post No. 365 will visit five local cemeteries, (Free Home at 9:30 a.m., Lund at 9:50 a.m., Ono at 10:10 a.m., Town of Union/Village of Plum City and St. John’s at 10:30 a.m.) The names of all known veterans will be read as part of the ceremonial service, followed by the Chaplain’s final prayer, a rifle salute and taps.

Post No. 365 will continue to include scheduled stops at the Plum City High School (11 a.m.) to honor those veterans who lost their lives while serving in the military and the Plum City Care Center/The Seasons (11:15 a.m.) to honor the veterans who are home bound.

American and Auxiliary flags will be placed on each of the veterans’ and deceased auxiliary members’ graves prior to Memorial Day. Poppies will also be distributed at each cemetery during the above times.

A patriotic music concert will take place at Spring Pond Park prior to the public ceremony presented by Post No. 365. The ceremony will include the laying of a wreath honoring all veterans who are deceased, along with a second wreath honoring those who have been lost at sea during the wars. A final salute and taps will conclude the Memorial Day Service.

Immediately following the Memorial Day Service, Frank Gilles American Legion Auxiliary Unit No. 365 will hold a Memorial Day Program at Spring Pond Park (weather permitting). The program will include the recognition of participants who are winners of the Poppy Poster Contest and the Americanism Essay Contest. The winning essays will be read at this time. A light free will donation picnic lunch will be served by Auxiliary Unit No. 365 during the memorial service and program.

Please bring your lawn chairs as seating areas are limited.

Have a wonderful Memorial Day from both Frank Gilles American Legion Post No. 365 and Frank Gilles American Legion Auxiliary Unit No. 365.

Prescott

Prescott American Legion Post 61 and VFW members will gather at the Legion Hall from 8-8:30 a.m. before heading out to area cemeteries. The schedule includes:

Firing at Prescott Legion Hall at 9 a.m.

Prescott Nursing Home: 9:15 a.m.

St. Mary’s Cemetery in Big River: 9:30 a.m.

St. John’s UCC Cemetery: 9:45 a.m.

Mercord Mill Park: 10 a.m.

No Name Flag: 10:15 a.m.

Meet at Veterans Triangle: 10:45 a.m.

Service at Veterans Triangle: 11 a.m.

River Falls

River Falls American Legion Post 121 will provide Memorial Day 2023 observances at area cemeteries and at the Veterans Memorial in River Falls. All activities will take place on Monday, May 29. The schedule is as follows:

Presentation of Colors and Taps at local cemeteries: Kinnickinnic, 7 a.m.; Mann Valley, 7:30 a.m.; Glass Valley, 8 a.m.; Cherma, 8:20 a.m.; St. Bridget’s, 8:45 a.m.

A full program including the Post Honor Guard, music and tributes to deceased veterans will take place at the Veteran’s Memorial, located at Greenwood Cemetery on East Division Street in River Falls, starting at 10 a.m. Gerald Hague of River Falls, who was mortally wounded on May 17, 1967, in Viet Nam will be honored through a special “re-enactment” presentation.

Following the ceremony, the public is invited to lunch at the American Legion, 701 N. Main St., compliments of the Post 121 Auxiliary.