MONROE - While summer does not start until June 21, many people consider Memorial Day to be the unofficial start of the season. But the real intent behind Memorial Day is to honor the men and women who died in all wars. Monroe area citizens will join the rest of the nation in honoring fallen men and women from past wars.
The day starts at 6 a.m. Monday with Zilmer-Riley Legion Post No. 84 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2312, assisted by local Boy Scouts, raising the Avenue of Flags, leading to Greenwood Cemetery.
Fourteen squads (listed below) will gather at the Greenwood Cemetery Monument at 6:45 a.m. to decorate veteran's graves:
Squad 1: Jim Moser, Bill Schwaiger, Ernie Steinmann, BSA Troop 101 and GSA Troop 3225.
Squad 2: Neale Schwartz, Mike Furgal, Cindy Schwartz, BSA Troop 101 and BSA Troop 3225.
Squad 3: Dave Blum, Dan Bestul, Donna Douglas, BSA Troop 101, GSA Troop 3225 and ALA Junior.
Squad 4: Jeff Gibbons, Jane Gibbons, Carla Pederson, BSA 101 and GSA 3225.
Squad 5: Sue Dahmen, James Dahmen, BSA Troop 115, GSA Troop 3459, Brownie 3092 and Cub Scout 101.
Squad 6: Steve Hammel, Steve Hammel, Roger Wuthrich, Don Jacobson, Joyce Steinmann, BSA Troop 115 and GSA Troop 3459.
Squad 7: Vicky Haffele, Roger Zimmerman, Jean Zimmerman, Ada Swanton, BSA Troop 115 and GSA Troop 3459.
Squad 8: Greg Schmitz, George Schutte, Tim Sanft, Justin Luangaram, BSA Troop 115, GSA Troop 3459 and Cub Scout 101.
Squad 9: Pete Blum, Dave Plenge, Lori Plenge, BSA Troop 180, Brownie 3092 and Cub Scout 114.
Squad 10: Karen Kennison, Janelle Kaiser, Sam Kaiser, BSA Troop 180, Brownie 3092 and Cub Scout 114.
Squad 11: Alvie Riese, Jan Perry-Bartelt, BSA Troop 180, Brownie 3092 and Junior GSA 3459.
Squad 12: Jim Curran, Katie Grossman, Jo Ann Schwitz, Sandy Groom, BSA Troop 180 and Brownie 3092.
Squad 13: Lucian LeMak, Kathy Kuebli, Brenda Niesman, Tony Petitijean, Cub Scout 101 and GSA 3225.
Squad 14: Bonnie Moser, Jeff Perkins, Helen Miller, Robert Koch, BSA Troop 101, GSA Troop 3459 and Cub Scout Troop 101.
Parade units will assemble at Recreation Park at 8:30 a.m. and commence to the cemetery at 9 a.m. A decorated float unit will be provided on which veterans unable to march may ride.
Upon arrival at Greenwood Cemetery at 9:30 a.m., the program will start with an invocation by Pastor Blake Canterbury, Crossroads Community Church, followed by Logan's Order given by Kyle Tanis and the "Gettysburg Address" by Michael Kielty. The Monroe High School Band will provide musical selections, directed by Janine Brown.
Local veteran Jack Ostdyke is scheduled to deliver the Memorial Day address, followed by a roll call of deceased veterans of Green County read by John Daehlin.
Participating in the placing of wreaths at the Veterans Memorial include Daisy, Brownie, Junior, Cadet and Senior Girl Scouts; Cub and Boy Scouts; American Legion Poppy Princess Raylin Peterson; American Legion Post No. 84 and Auxiliary Unit No 84; and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2312 and Auxiliary Unit. A firing squad from Monroe American Legion Post No. 84 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2312 will be present.
Conclusion of the Memorial Day service includes "Taps" played by Michael Rohloff, and the benediction by Canterbury.
The ceremony is open to the public.
There will a potluck dinner served at noon at the Zilmer-Riley American Legion Post Home, 1627 12th Ave., Monroe.
In case of rain, the Memorial Day program will be held at 9:30 a.m. at the American Legion Post Home, Monroe.
The day starts at 6 a.m. Monday with Zilmer-Riley Legion Post No. 84 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2312, assisted by local Boy Scouts, raising the Avenue of Flags, leading to Greenwood Cemetery.
Fourteen squads (listed below) will gather at the Greenwood Cemetery Monument at 6:45 a.m. to decorate veteran's graves:
Squad 1: Jim Moser, Bill Schwaiger, Ernie Steinmann, BSA Troop 101 and GSA Troop 3225.
Squad 2: Neale Schwartz, Mike Furgal, Cindy Schwartz, BSA Troop 101 and BSA Troop 3225.
Squad 3: Dave Blum, Dan Bestul, Donna Douglas, BSA Troop 101, GSA Troop 3225 and ALA Junior.
Squad 4: Jeff Gibbons, Jane Gibbons, Carla Pederson, BSA 101 and GSA 3225.
Squad 5: Sue Dahmen, James Dahmen, BSA Troop 115, GSA Troop 3459, Brownie 3092 and Cub Scout 101.
Squad 6: Steve Hammel, Steve Hammel, Roger Wuthrich, Don Jacobson, Joyce Steinmann, BSA Troop 115 and GSA Troop 3459.
Squad 7: Vicky Haffele, Roger Zimmerman, Jean Zimmerman, Ada Swanton, BSA Troop 115 and GSA Troop 3459.
Squad 8: Greg Schmitz, George Schutte, Tim Sanft, Justin Luangaram, BSA Troop 115, GSA Troop 3459 and Cub Scout 101.
Squad 9: Pete Blum, Dave Plenge, Lori Plenge, BSA Troop 180, Brownie 3092 and Cub Scout 114.
Squad 10: Karen Kennison, Janelle Kaiser, Sam Kaiser, BSA Troop 180, Brownie 3092 and Cub Scout 114.
Squad 11: Alvie Riese, Jan Perry-Bartelt, BSA Troop 180, Brownie 3092 and Junior GSA 3459.
Squad 12: Jim Curran, Katie Grossman, Jo Ann Schwitz, Sandy Groom, BSA Troop 180 and Brownie 3092.
Squad 13: Lucian LeMak, Kathy Kuebli, Brenda Niesman, Tony Petitijean, Cub Scout 101 and GSA 3225.
Squad 14: Bonnie Moser, Jeff Perkins, Helen Miller, Robert Koch, BSA Troop 101, GSA Troop 3459 and Cub Scout Troop 101.
Parade units will assemble at Recreation Park at 8:30 a.m. and commence to the cemetery at 9 a.m. A decorated float unit will be provided on which veterans unable to march may ride.
Upon arrival at Greenwood Cemetery at 9:30 a.m., the program will start with an invocation by Pastor Blake Canterbury, Crossroads Community Church, followed by Logan's Order given by Kyle Tanis and the "Gettysburg Address" by Michael Kielty. The Monroe High School Band will provide musical selections, directed by Janine Brown.
Local veteran Jack Ostdyke is scheduled to deliver the Memorial Day address, followed by a roll call of deceased veterans of Green County read by John Daehlin.
Participating in the placing of wreaths at the Veterans Memorial include Daisy, Brownie, Junior, Cadet and Senior Girl Scouts; Cub and Boy Scouts; American Legion Poppy Princess Raylin Peterson; American Legion Post No. 84 and Auxiliary Unit No 84; and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2312 and Auxiliary Unit. A firing squad from Monroe American Legion Post No. 84 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2312 will be present.
Conclusion of the Memorial Day service includes "Taps" played by Michael Rohloff, and the benediction by Canterbury.
The ceremony is open to the public.
There will a potluck dinner served at noon at the Zilmer-Riley American Legion Post Home, 1627 12th Ave., Monroe.
In case of rain, the Memorial Day program will be held at 9:30 a.m. at the American Legion Post Home, Monroe.