SPOONER — Memorial Day weekend is upon us. We will soon gather throughout Washburn County at small cemeteries and memorials with fond memories of relatives and friends who died while serving America as a member of the Armed Forces.
We will honor their service with flags, wreaths, thanks, salutes and tears. And though the pain of loss will be tough, and many tears will flow, our hearts will fill with pride for their sacrifice to preserve our freedom.
Many volunteers place American flags on the graves of military personnel at national cemeteries. Here in our hometowns, it is more personal, as the flags and wreaths decorate not only the graves of military personnel but of fathers, mothers, husbands, wives, grandfathers and grandmothers, aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters and friends.
Here is what will be happening locally.
SpoonerThis year’s Spooner Memorial Day program will be hosted by AmVets Post #190, American Legion Post #12 and the Spooner Area Honor Guard at Veterans Memorial Park across from Tony’s Riverside, starting at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, May 27. This special day honors veterans who have selflessly given their lives for the freedoms all Americans enjoy.
There will be posting of colors, music provided by the Spooner High School band, National Anthem and Pledge of Allegiance, invocation, placing of a wreath and of a flowered wreath in the Spooner Flowage in honor of Navy veterans, prayers of thanks, a speech on the importance of Memorial Day, a rifle salute and playing of “Taps.”
Following the program at the Memorial Park, AmVets Honor Guard will provide rifle salutes at Spooner Veterans Memorial Cemetery off Highway 70, placing of a wreath, a rifle salute and “Taps.’ Immediately after, the ceremony will go to the Spooner Annex on Highway 70 for placing of a wreath, rifle salute and “Taps.”
At 1 p.m. at the Stone Lake Cemetery, there will be placing of a wreath, rifle salute and “Taps.”
Area citizens are invited to attend any and all of the events.
For more information, contact AmVets Post Commander Jim Bishop at 715.416.3375.
State Veterans CemeteryMemorial Day will be observed at the State Veterans Memorial Cemetery south of Spooner on Saturday, May 25, starting at 1 p.m.
Keynote speaker for the observance will be WDVA Sec. James Bond. The band for the occasion will be the Northwinds Brass Band. If weather conditions allow, there will be a flyover.
The observance will last for approximately an hour.
BirchwoodBirchwood Bemis-Hunter American Legion Post & Auxiliary #379 will host Memorial Day services on Monday, May 27.
Services will begin at 9 a.m. at Long Lake Cemetery with the reading of deceased veterans, a 21-volley rifle salute and “Taps.” At 10 a.m., there is a service at Little Birch Lake North End, dropping of a wreath, a 21-volley rifle salute and “Taps.”
At 10:15 a.m., there is a march down Main Street in Birchwood to the Veterans memorial by the Village Hall, a short speech and Salute to Deceased Veterans.
At 11 a.m. at Woodland Cemetery, there is a rifle salute and Benediction Tribute to fallen comrades. At 12:30 p.m., there will be a luncheon at the American Legion Post #379 in Birchwood, provided by the Auxiliary.
MinongAmerican Legion Post #465 & Veterans of Foreign Wars Post # 10625 Minong will have an observance on Monday, May 27. At 9:30 a.m. at Chicog Cemetery, there is a speaker, prayer, reading of deceased veterans, placing of the wreath, rifle salute and “Taps.”
At 11 a.m. at Greenwood Cemetery, there will be music provided by the Northwood High School band, reading of deceased veterans, placing of the wreath, rifle salute and “Taps.”
Shell LakeAt Shell Lake on Monday, May 27, the Memorial Day observance will be conducted by American Legion Post #225 and VFW Post #9867.
At 10 a.m., the Shell Lake Military Honors Team marches, starting at the Shell Lake Catholic Church on the west end of Main Street and on down to the Shell Lake Memorial Park by the Shell Lake beach.
At 10:15 a.m., there is a ceremony at Shell Lake Memorial Park, music provided by the Shell Lake High School band, an invocation, National Anthem, Missing Man Remembrance, musical selection, guest speaker, reading of deceased veterans, placing of the wreath, rifle salute, “Taps” and benediction.
Right after, the ceremony will move to the Shell Lake Cemetery for Full Military Honors provided by the Shell Lake Veterans Honor Guard.
SpringbrookMemorial Day services will be handled by Springbrook VFW Post #10568 on Monday, May 27.
At 8 a.m., there will be a church service ceremony at St. Luke’s Church. At 9 a.m. at VFW Post #10568 in Springbrook, there will be reading of deceased veterans, placing of the wreath, rifle salute and “Taps.”
At St. Mary’s Magdalene Cemetery at 9:15 a.m., there will be prayers, placing of a wreath and a rifle salute. At 9:30 a.m., there is a service at St. Luke’s Cemetery; there will be prayers, placing of a wreath and a rifle salute.
The Spring Lake Naval Cemetery service is at 10 a.m., with the ringing of the bell, prayer, placing of a wreath and rifle salute.
At 10:30 a.m. at Anah Cemetery on County Highway A in Crystal Township, there will be prayers, placing of a wreath and a rifle salute.
There will be a service at Earl Cemetery at 11 a.m., with music, prayer, placing of a wreath and a rifle salute.
At 11:30 a.m., there will be a Post Feed for Honor Guard and Post members.
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