Bay City

Bay City’s Harding-Hall-Darrington American Legion Post #357 is planning a full morning of Memorial Day observances Monday, May 26. They will start by visiting the following cemeteries:

8 a.m. – Esdaile Cemetery

8:30 a.m. – Hartland Methodist

9 a.m. – Tabor Lutheran

9:30 a.m. – Bay City Lakeshore

10 a.m. – Bay City

10:45 a.m. – Trenton

11:30 a.m. – Diamond Bluff

Noon – Svea Lutheran

The Bay City and Trenton ceremonies will feature a guest speaker, Ellsworth Community School District bands and Cub Scouts Pack #3. Legion and Auxiliary members are invited to attend a potluck meal at 5 p.m. Bring a beverage.

Ellsworth

On Wednesday, May 21 and Thursday, May 22, look for members of the Kinne-Englehart American Legion Auxiliary proudly offering the Ellsworth community a bright red poppy and encouraging you to wear the poppy in remembrance of those who have served our country in the armed forces. 

The American Legion family adopted the poppy as its official flower over 100 years ago. Since that time veterans have made millions of the paper replicas, a symbol of remembrance of those who have died defending our country. If you choose to donate, the proceeds from your donations are used to support the future of veterans, active-duty military personnel and their families with medical and financial needs. The American Legion Auxiliary raises about $4 million each year distributing poppies throughout the nation. One hundred percent of the funds raised goes directly to help veterans, military, and their families. Please consider a donation and more importantly, wear a poppy to remember our veterans.

Kinne-Engelhart American Legion Post 204 will host its annual Memorial Day program at 10:15 a.m. in the Ellsworth High School Cafetorium (323 W. Hillcrest St.), preceded by firing squad visits to area cemeteries:

Squad #1

• 7:45 a.m. – Maple Grove
• 8 a.m. – United Church of Christ
• 8:25 a.m. – Zion Covenant
• 8:45 a.m. – Old Clayfield
• 9 a.m. – Clayfield

Squad #2

• 7:45 a.m. – St. Francis
• 9 a.m. – Thurston Hall
• 8:15 a.m. – Beldenville
• 8:35 a.m. – Beldenville Civil War Grave
• 8:50 a.m. – El Paso
• 9:05 a.m. – Lost Creek

Squad #3

• 7:45 a.m. – Hartland Presbyterian
• 8 a.m. – Bethlehem Lutheran
• 8:35 a.m. – Bethel Covenant (Moeville)
• 8:55 a.m. – Trimbelle

After the main program, the public is invited to a free lunch at 11:30 a.m. at the Legion Hall.

Elmwood

The Crain-Ottman American Legion Post 207 and Auxiliary Unit 207 will hold its Memorial Day program on May 26 at the Veterans Memorial Park in Elmwood. This year’s speaker is Julie Huebel, volunteer and board secretary for the Pierce County Historical Association. Huebel will introduce us to all the servicemen on the “For Those Who Gave All” KIA/MIA Monument. 

Huebel will talk about Albert Crain, the first Elmwood resident to perish in WWI at age 20. According to Huebel, “He enlisted in the Army in July 1917 in Eau Claire and trained at Camp Douglas, Wis. and Camp McArthur, Texas. He served as a PVT in Battery C, 120th Field Artillery. He died Jan. 10, 1918 in Waco, Texas at the base hospital at Camp McArthur after a few days illness with measles and bronchial pneumonia. He received a military funeral at Camp McArthur and his squad accompanied his remains to the depot. Upon arrival in Elmwood, his remains were met by a large delegation of local businessmen. A large flag was draped over his casket as a tribute to him by his old friends. He is buried in Poplar Hill Cemetery in Rock Elm. He was born to Joseph and Della Crain in 1897. The Elmwood American Legion Post 207 is named in his honor.”

She will also speak about Harry Ottman, the first Elmwood resident to perish in WWII. According to Huebel, Ottman died Jan. 27, 1943 in Holland. “Staff SGT Ottman, served in the 68th Squadron of the 44th Bomb Group as an air gunner and radio operator. He flew seven missions from Nov. 9, 1942 to Jan. 27, 1943 in B-24 bombers. In his last mission, his plane “Spirit of ‘76” crashed on the beach of Terschelling, Friesland, Holland. The Elmwood American Legion and Auxiliary held a memorial service for Harry at the Elmwood Auditorium on Feb. 28, 1943. He was buried in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Ellsworth. He was born to Clarence and Rose (Funk) Ottman. The Elmwood American Legion Post 207 is named in his honor.”

All Legion and Auxiliary members who plan on going to all the cemetery programs, please be at the Elmwood Auditorium by 7:45 a.m. Departure time will be at 8 a.m. The Honors Ceremony schedule for the outlying cemeteries is as follows:

• 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 Park Memorial Program – 11 a.m.

Please bring your own chair to Veterans Memorial Park as they will not be provided. After the program, Kern’s Kurbside will be providing a lunch with proceeds going to the Elmwood Crain-Ottman American Legion Post 207. 

Maiden Rock

Maiden Rock’s William E. Geer American Legion Post 158 will perform observances at the following cemeteries/locations Monday, May 26. All are welcome to attend.

7:25 a.m. – Little Plum

7:40 a.m. – Frankfort

7:55 a.m. – Porcupine

8:25 a.m. – Moravian

8:35 a.m. – Old Sabylund

8:50 a.m. – New Stockholm

9:05 a.m. – Old Stockholm

9:30 a.m. – Oakwood Pepin

10 a.m. – New Sabylund

10:15 a.m. – Swedish Methodist

10:45 a.m. – Maiden Rock

11 a.m. – Lake Pepin Lakeshore, Maiden Rock

Plum City

Frank Gilles American Legion Post No. 365 and Auxiliary Unit No. 365 are gearing up for their 2025 Memorial Day Service on Monday, May 26. 

As part of the 2025 Memorial Day Service, Post No. 365 will visit 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 homebound. 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.

Plum City School Band will perform a patriotic music concert at Spring Pond Park prior to the public ceremony presented by Post No. 365.

Our 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 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

The Prescott American Legion Post 61 has released its Memorial Day firing schedule:

• 9 a.m. – American Legion Hall in Prescott
• 9:15 a.m. – Prescott Nursing Home
• 9:30 a.m. – St. Mary’s Cemetery in Big River
• 9:45 a.m. – St. John’s Cemetery
• 10 a.m. – Mercord Mill Park in Prescott
• 10:15 a.m. – No Name Saloon flag change
• 10:45 a.m. – Meet at Veterans Triangle
• 11 a.m. – Ceremony at Veterans Triangle

River Falls

River Falls American Legion Post 121 will provide Memorial Day 2025 observances at several area cemeteries and at the Veterans Memorial in River Falls. All activities will take place on Monday, May 26. The schedule is as follows:

Presentation of Colors and Taps at local cemeteries: Kinnickinnic, 7 a.m.; Mann Valley, 7:25 a.m.; Glass Valley, 7:50 a.m.; Cherma, 8:15 a.m.; St. Bridget’s, 8:40 a.m.

Starting at 10 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.

Following the ceremony, the public is invited to lunch at from noon to 3 p.m. at the RF American Legion, 701 N. Main St., compliments of the Post 121 Auxiliary.

Spring Valley

At 9:30 a.m. on Memorial Day, the Spring Valley American Legion Post and Auxiliary will hold a Memorial Day remembrance service and a dedication ceremony for the new stone war memorial monument. Following the ceremony, we will host a small picnic and social hour. We will be joined by the Boy Scouts and the Spring Valley High School Band.

American Legion Post 227 of Spring Valley Wisconsin received its permanent charter on April 11, 1928. At that time, we were named the Ralph Rickerd post. We later were issued a supplemental charter Oct. 4, 1947 when we renamed the post to "Rickerd-Danielson" to honor Dorance Danielson. Both Rickerd's and Danielson's names appear on our war memorial.

This ceremony will be held in the small park located just west of Spring Valley Dentistry where Park Drive meets WI-29.
You can find more information at our website www.svpost227.org