By Sarah Nigbor

American Legions in Pierce County will host a multitude of Memorial Day observances on Monday, May 30. 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 commem- orate the sacrifices of Civil War soldiers.

Ohio Congressman James Garfield made a speech at Arlington National Cem- etery that first Memori al Day; 5,000 participants then helped decorate 20,000 Union and Confederate soldiers’ graves. New York was the first state to designate

See MEMORIAL DAY, Page 3 Memorial Day

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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.

Bay City

Bay City and Trenton Cemetery ceremonies will feature a guest speaker and a performance by the Ellsworth Middle School band and Cub Scouts Pack 3.

Bay City American Legion (W6450 Main St.) will hold a flag-raising ceremony at 1 p.m. to commemorate the new veterans memorial.

• Esdaile Cemetery 8 a.m.

• Hartland Cemetery 8:30 a.m.

• Tabor Lutheran Cemetery 9 a.m.

• Bay City Lakeshore 9:30 a.m.

• Bay City Cemetery 10 a.m.

• Trenton Cemetery 10:45 a.m.

• Diamond Bluu Cemetery 11:30 a.m.

• Svea Lutheran Cemetery noon Ellsworth

Kinne-Englehart Post 204 of Ellsworth will host honor guard tribute ceremonies at the following cemeteries:

• Maple Grove, St. Francis, and Hartland Presbyterian 7:45 a.m.

• United Church of Christ, Thurston Hill, Bethlehem Lutheran 8 a.m.

• Zion Covenant, Bethel Covenant (Moeville) 8:25 a.m.

• Beldenville Civil War Grave 8:35 a.m.

• El Paso 8:50 a.m.

• Trimbelle 8:55 a.m.

• Clayfield 9 a.m.

• Lost Creek 9:05 a.m.

The honor guard will march through town in a parade starting at 9:45 a.m. at Post 204 (139 S. Oak St.) and ending at Ellsworth High School (323 Hillcrest St.), followed by a Memorial Day program at EHS at 10:15 a.m.

A meal will be furnished after the ceremonies at Legion Hall Post 204.

Elmwood

Elmwood’s Crain-Ottman American Legion Post 207 will also travel to area cemeteries to perform honor guard tributes, followed by a Memorial Day service at 11 a.m. at Veterans Memorial Park in Elmwood. Lunch will be served immediately following the service at the Elmwood Auditorium (323 W. Winter Ave.)

• Hatchville Lutheran Cemetery 8:15 a.m.

• Oak Ridge (Reed) Cemetery 8:30 a.m.

• Spring Lake (both) Cemetery 8:50 a.m.

• Sacred Heart (Farm Hill) Cemetery 9:30 a.m.

• Old Rock Elm Cemetery 9:45 a.m.

• Poplar Hill Cemetery 10 a.m.

Plum City

Frank Gilles American Legion Post No. 365 and Auxiliary Unit No. 365 are gearing up for their 2022 Memorial Day Service on Monday, May 30, 2022.

As part of the 2022 Memorial Day Service, Post No. 365 will visit each of our five local cemeteries :

• Free Home 9:30 a.m.

• Lund 9:50 a.m.

• Ono 10:10 a.m.

• Town of Union/Village of Plum City and St. John’s 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 their 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 Aux- iliary 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 public 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 the 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.

Prescott

VFW and Prescott American Legion Post 61 members will gather at Legion Hall (710 Pearl St.) from 8-8:30 a.m. The honor guard will perform firing ceremonies at the following times and locations: • American Legion Post 50 (710 Spring St.) 9 a.m.

• Prescott Nursing & Rehabilitation (1505 Orrin Road) 9:15 a.m.

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

• St. John’s Cemetery 9:45 a.m.

• Mercord Mill Park 10 a.m.

• No Name Saloon flag 10:15 a.m.

• Veterans Triangle 10:45 a.m., followed by a service at 11 a.m.

River Falls

River Falls American Legion Post 121 will be providing Memorial Day 2022 observances at several area cemeteries and at the Veterans Memorial in River Falls. All activities will take place on Monday, May 30. 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. John Chapman of River Falls, who died on Jan. 8, 1968, 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.

Spring Valley

Rickerd-Danielson American Legion Post 227 will host a Memorial Day service at 9:30 a.m. at Handy Andy Park. Music by the Spring Valley High School band will begin at 9 a.m. Following the cemetery, the Legion will grill brats and hot dogs.