Memorial Day services planned throughout region

Members of veterans organizations will conduct Memorial Day observances on Monday, May 31.

Gilman

Western Taylor County American Legion Post 359 and Bellinger-Lublin-Gilman VFW Post 6186 will begin Memorial Day services at Donald Cemetery at 9 a.m. Services will be held at Huron Russian Orthodox Cemetery at 9:45 a.m., Huron Presbyterian Cemetery at 9:55 a.m., Huron Catholic Cemetery at 10:05 a.m., Huron Lutheran Cemetery at 10:20 a.m. and Meadowbrook Cemetery in Gilman at 11 a.m.

Jump River

Members of the Hugh Warner VFW Post 2977 and Auxiliary will conduct Memorial Day services at the clubhouse at 9:30 a.m., LaFollette Bridge in Jump River at 10 a.m., Hannibal Cemetery at 10:30 a.m. and Mt. Nebo Cemetery in Jump River at 11 a.m.

The Jump River Community Center will serve a baked chicken and Polish sausage dinner at the center from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Lublin

Members of Abramowicz-Kaczmarczyk- Cwikla American Legion Post 547 and Auxiliary will conduct Memorial Day services at St. Mary’s Polish National Catholic Cemetery at 9:30 a.m., St. Stanislaus Catholic Church Cemetery at 9:45 a.m., Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Cemetery at 10:30 a.m., Holy Assumption Orthodox Church Cemetery at 11 a.m., Maplehurst Cemetery at 11:30 a.m., Apostolic Church Cemetery (corner of Hwy 64 and CTH T) at noon and Perkinstown Community Church Cemetery at 12:30 p.m.

The post will serve its annual barbecue chicken dinner on Sunday, May 30 from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Lublin Park pavilion. Polka music and dance to follow.

Medford

Klossner-Dietzler VFW Post 5729 and Auxiliary, and Landua-Jensen American Legion Post 147 will conduct Memorial Day services at 10 a.m. at the flag field (next to the Frances L. Simek Memorial Library).

Music will be provided by The Red Higgins Freedom Train Band before and during the ceremony. A wreath drop by air will be conducted over the Millpond at 10 a.m.

There will be speeches by program chairman Roger Emmerich, mayor Michael Wellner, VFW Auxiliary president Jackie Gregory and VFW Auxiliary patriots pen essay contest winner Charles Gierl. Maureen Heier will read the names of former and present service members recognized with the placement of Legacy Stones in 2020 and 2021.

There will be a dedication of the KIA (Killed In Action) Memorial Wall and the unveiling of a bronze kneeling soldier presenting a folded flag to an empty chair. There will be a ringing of the bell and the release of a red, white or blue balloon as members of the Medford High School History Club read each name on the wall.

Following the rifle salute and playing of taps, Richard and Betty Lekie will release homing pigeons to honor the service they provided to the military.

Before the Memorial Day service, the Memorial Day Murph Challenge will be held at 9 a.m. at Aspirus Therapy & Fitness in Medford. The challenge consists of a one-mile run, 100 pull-ups, 200 push ups, 300 air squats and a one-mile run wearing a 20-pound vest. The challenge will be scaled to all skill levels. For more information, contact Andy Guden at gudenan@medford.k12.wi.us.

Rib Lake

Lehman-Clendenning American Legion Post 274 and Auxiliary will conduct Memorial Day services at St. Peter’s Lutheran Cemetery at 9 a.m. and St. Ann’s Catholic Cemetery at 9:30 a.m. (weather permitting, outdoor refreshments will be served) in the Town of Greenwood.

A wreath will be placed in Rib Lake at 11 a.m. to remember servicemen who died at sea. A service at Lakeview Park will follow where a roll call of deceased veterans will be read with a poppy dropped as each name is read.

There will be no parade or service at Veterans Park on McComb Avenue.

Spirit

American Legion Post 452 at Spirit will have a firing squad at Knox Cemetery on CTH D at 8 a.m., St. Mary’s Cemetery on Central Avenue at 8:30 a.m., Clifford Public Cemetery on Clifford Avenue at 9 a.m., Finlander Cemetery on Clifford Avenue at 9:30 a.m., Garden of Memories Cemetery on CTH C at 10 a.m., Levitt Creek Cemetery on Silver Creek Road at 10:30 a.m. and Ogema Hillside Cemetery on Hwy 86 at 11 a.m.

A potluck lunch will be served by the Auxiliary at Spirit Town Hall at 11:30 a.m. with a program to follow at 1 p.m. Following the program, a ceremony will be held at approximately 2 p.m. at Spirit Hillcrest Cemetery on Hwy 86.

Stetsonville

Boxrucker-Berry American Legion Post 519 and Auxiliary will hold a brief honor guard and taps ceremony at 9 a.m. at the Legion clubhouse. No refreshments will be served.

Thorp

Thorp VFW Post 9057 will conduct Memorial Day services at Sylvan Cemetery in the town of Reseburg at 9:15 a.m.; Butlerville Cemetery in the town of Butler at 9:45 a.m.; Worden Cemetery on Fernwal Ave. at 10:15 a.m.; Worden Cemetery on CTH N at 10:30 a.m.; Taft Town Cemetery at 11:15 a.m.; St. Mary of Czestochowa at 11:30 a.m.; Eidsvold Cemetery at 11:50 a.m. and St. Bernard’s-St. Hedwig’s Cemetery at 12:20 p.m.

A potluck lunch will be served following the ceremonies at the Reseburg Town Hall on CTH N.

Westboro

Premeau-Schauss VFW Post 7817 and Auxiliary will conduct Memorial Day services at 9:30 a.m. at Northside Cemetery. Services will follow at Chelsea Community Cemetery and Mt. Olive Cemetery. There will be no parade or luncheon at the VFW Hall.

The Highground

The 11th annual Honor Ride Motorcycle Ride and Rally and Memorial Day Ceremony will be held on Monday, May 31. This year’s ceremony includes the dedication of the “Lost 74” tribute.

The honor ride will have nine different starting points — Eau Claire, Neillsville, Medford, Appleton, King/Waupaca, Wisconsin Rapids, Reedsburg, Richland Center and Tomah. Motorcyclists from across the state will make their way to The Highground, stopping at the American Legion Post 73 in Neillsville. At approximately 1:45 p.m., the procession of riders will travel through Neillsville and out to The Highground where they will be greeted by supporters along a flag-lined path. Riders will enjoy a meal prior to the National Moment of Silence at 3 p.m. which will mark the beginning of the Memorial Day ceremony and “Lost 74” dedication.

In 2020, a new memorial was placed in the Meditation Garden to pay tribute to the 74 sailors — and more specifically to the three Wisconsin sailors, James R. Cmeyla, 24, Luxemburg; Michael A. Orlikowski, 28, Milwaukee; and Jon W. Thomas, 22, Delavan — who died at sea June 3, 1969 aboard the U.S.S. Frank E. Evans when it collided with the Australian carrier H.M.A.S. Melbourne during a training exercise. The Highground is honored to work with the U.S.S. Frank E. Evans Association (DD 754) and to have Evans survivor Terry Vjere at the park on Memorial Day for the dedication of the stone. In honor of the Wisconsin fallen, guests in the park that day will hear their names with the Liberty Bell replica tolling over the speakers.

The Highground continues to focus on all who visit — veterans, family and friends — by honoring those who protect and defend freedom, educating all on what veterans have done for the country and providing a safe environment for healing. As a key fundraiser, the honor ride allows The Highground to continue to offer programs like the veterans weekend retreats and onsite PTS/PTSD programs for veterans and families, as well as assistance for homeless veterans.

Supporters who are interested in joining the ride can register online at thehighgroundhonorride. com. For more information, call Bonnie at 715-743-4224 or send an email to events@thehighground. us.

The Highground is located at W7031 Ridge Rd., three miles west of Neillsville on Hwy 10.