KENOSHA COUNTY, Wis. — Memorial Day will be observed across Kenosha County with a full weekend of ceremonies, parades, cemetery tributes, a flag retirement ceremony, a POW/MIA service and family-friendly remembrance events honoring the men and women who died while serving in the United States military.
The Kenosha County Division of Veterans Services has compiled a list of events scheduled from Saturday, May 23, through Monday, May 25. Events are planned in Somers, Union Grove, Kenosha, Silver Lake, Twin Lakes and Pleasant Prairie.
The first event will be held Saturday, May 23, at the Pritzker Military Museum & Library, 10475 12th St., also known as Highway E, in Somers. The event will run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will include a remembrance program at 11 a.m. featuring remarks by Lt. Col. Jennifer Pritzker.
The Somers event will also include a Somers Fire & Rescue truck visit and a live caricature artist from noon to 3 p.m., along with opportunities to honor fallen service members, community information tables, hands-on crafts and additional family activities throughout the day. Admission is free. Those who pre-register will receive free admission to the museum’s next exhibit in June.
The Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery will hold its Memorial Day ceremony at 11 a.m. Sunday, May 24, rain or shine. The cemetery is located at 21731 Spring St. in Union Grove. More information is available from Memorial Day Program Coordinator and Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery Office Representative Marina Johnstone at 262-878-5660.
On Monday, May 25, Navy Club Ship 40 Kenosha will hold a Memorial Day ceremony at 9 a.m. at Navy Park, located at Sixth Avenue and 54th Street in Kenosha. The ceremony will include the singing of the National Anthem and “Eternal Father,” along with a flower and wreath dedication. More information is available from Heath Ryan at 808-284-8047.
American Legion Post 293 in Silver Lake will host a Memorial Day ceremony and parade Monday, May 25. A 9 a.m. service will be held in front of the American Legion Hall, 307 N. Cogswell Drive, with the parade to follow immediately after. More information is available from Dennis Heckler at 262-843-3533.
American Legion Post 544 in Twin Lakes will hold several Memorial Day observances Monday, May 25. The ceremony will begin at Mound Prairie Cemetery at 9 a.m., then move to St. John’s Cemetery at 9:30 a.m. Parade assembly will begin at 10 a.m. at Lance Park, 989 Lance Drive, and the parade from Lance Park to American Legion Post 544 will begin at 11 a.m. A ceremony will follow at the Legion post. More information is available from Jim Schmidt at 262-492-3073 or American Legion Post 544 at 262-877-3669.
American Legion Post 21 in Kenosha will hold a Memorial Day ceremony at 10 a.m. Monday, May 25, at Green Ridge Cemetery, 6604 Seventh Ave. More information is available from Matt Christianson at 847-293-6695.
Sunset Ridge Memorial Park and American Legion David Leet Post 552 will hold a Memorial Day ceremony at 11 a.m. Monday, May 25, at Sunset Ridge Memorial Park, 4300 Green Bay Road in Kenosha. The program will include the reading of the names of all veterans recently interred at the park and will honor all veterans.
Kristen Paxton will serve as keynote speaker for the Sunset Ridge ceremony. The program will also include a living historian, a dove release, bagpipes, Taps, and singer Morgan Kelsey performing the National Anthem. More information is available from Kelly Wagner at 262-652-7488.
VFW Post 7308 in Pleasant Prairie will hold a Memorial Day ceremony at 11:30 a.m. Monday, May 25, at Old St. Mark’s Cemetery, located at Ninth Court and 78th Street in Kenosha. More information is available from Larry Rugg at 262-891-2161.
VFW Post 1865 in Kenosha will hold Memorial Day and flag retirement ceremonies Monday, May 25, at VFW Post 1865, 6618 39th Ave. The Memorial Day ceremony will begin at noon, followed by the flag retirement ceremony at 1 p.m.
The Kenosha Area Vietnam Veterans will hold a Memorial Day ceremony that includes a POW/MIA service at noon Monday, May 25, at Library Park, 711 59th Place in Kenosha. More information is available from Tim Green at 262-455-5515.
Memorial Day is observed annually to honor members of the United States military who died in service to the country. Local veterans organizations and community groups across Kenosha County will mark the holiday with ceremonies intended to remember those sacrifices and provide residents with opportunities to pay their respects.
