Caledonia Argus

Memorial Day Services & Programs

Posted: 5/25/04

Memorial Day services will take place throughout Houston County this weekend; following is a list of the ones in the Caledonia area.

At courthouse Saturday

A county-wide Memorial Day program will be held at the Veteransí Memorial in front of the Houston County Courthouse in Caledonia on Saturday, May 29 at 10:30 a.m. The acting commander of the program will be Ron Dix of Spring Grove. The acting sergeant at arms will be Jim Oldenberg of La Crosse.

The guest speaker will be David Klinski, Caledonia.

All American Legion and VFW posts in the county will be providing rifles at the salute to the dead. Don Buchan will lead the firing squad.

The names of veterans who have passed away since May of 2003 will be read. Ron Strub will place their names in a helmet and burn them.

Colin Marnach will lead those present in the national anthem. Chaplain Don Keefe will offer a prayer. Mike Moore of Hokah will place the POW/MIA flag on an empty chair. Kermit McRae will recite Flanders Fields.

Caledonia

Memorial Day services will be held in the Caledonia High School auditorium on May 31.

The guest speakers are Pastor Tony Fink of United Methodist Church in Caledonia and his son David Fink, a veteran of the war in Iraq.

Parents who will be honored with gold stars are Mrs. Art Lampert, Mrs. Robert Lewis, Mrs. Fred Tschumper, Mr. Melvin Brickman, and Mrs. Quillen.

VFW and auxiliary awards will be given, as well as scholarships.

Members of VFW Post 3833 and American Legion Post 191, plus Boy Scout and Girl Scout representatives, will advance the colors.

Caledonia High Schoolís band and choirs will provide music, including the national anthem and service songs for the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, and reserves.

Brownsville

VFW Post 6801 and the Ladies Auxiliary will begin Memorial Day observances at the Catholic Cemetery at 10 a.m., Monday, May 31.

A program and memorial roll call will be held at the community center at 10:30 a.m. A former member of the U.S. Army, Spec. Adrianne Klug who has returned from Iraq, will be the featured speaker. She is the daughter of Tim and Cindy Klug.

Following a march to the Mississippi River to salute those of the Navy who died at sea, everyone is invited to the annual pot-luck dinner at the Community Center at noon.

New Albin

Memorial Day services will be held at 9 a.m. at the New Albin Community Center, New Albin, on Monday, May 31. All Veterans, VFW members, Ladies Auxiliary, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and Brownies will meet at 8:30 a.m. at the Center. Please bring your flags.

The program will be as follows: Invocation, Rev. Jim Olson; Band Selection by Kee High Band, Director Jane Remmen; Gettysburg Address, Abby Harmon; Address for 2004, Rev. William Reese; Band Selection; Benediction, Rev. Jim Olson. Master of Ceremony is Lee Hosch.

After the program, military taps will be played at the Community Center and also at St. Peterís Cemetery.

Everyone is welcome.

Spring Grove

Services for Memorial Day will be held on Monday, May 31, beginning at 10 a.m. A parade will proceed at 9:45 a.m. from the school to the park. Jim Busta, second vice commander, is program coordinator and will welcome everyone. The Spring Grove High School Band, under the direction of Tim Jensen, will play The Star Spangled Banner. Don Ellestad will read the Honor Roll. The Scouts will decorate crosses. There will be a Firing Squad Salute by the American Legion.

Guest speaker will be Kurt Onstad, formerly of Spring Grove.

In case of inclement weather, the program will be held in the school auditorium.

Houston

Memorial Day services will be held in the park on Monday, May 31, 10 a.m. In case of inclement weather, services will be held at the Community Center. Jasmine Breault will sing the National Anthem.

David Mahlke, of Winona and one of the first wounded to return from Iraq, will be guest speaker.

John Larkie Jr. will be singing patriotic songs. The Houston School band will play and the Boy Scouts will place the wreath.

Hokah

Memorial Day, Monday, May 31, observances will begin with the Hokah American Legion Womenís Auxiliary serving coffee and rolls at City Hall, 7:30 a.m., for all veterans marching in the parade. A special presentation will be made to our World War II veterans.

Memorial Day services will begin with the placing of the wreaths at 8:15 a.m. at the Root River Bridge and Convent Cemetery. The parade will be at 9 a.m. starting at City Hall and proceeding to the city park where Jim Sauer, a La Crosse Central High school teacher and former Hokah resident, will speak. Then they will continue on to the cemeteries on Highway 16.

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