May 13, 2009

Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs to host Memorial Day Ceremony at Union Grove

(MADISON) – The Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) announces that Memorial Day ceremonies will take place throughout the state with the theme this year of "Duty, Honor, Country – This They Believed."

"Memorial Day is a day to honor and pay special tribute to those who have given their lives in the service of our country," said WDVA Acting Secretary Ken Black. "They deserve our thanks and remembrance."

Locally, there will be a ceremony at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, May 24, at the Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery (SWVMC). The cemetery is located on the Southern Wisconsin Center Campus at 21731 Spring Street, Union Grove. Veterans and the public are invited to attend. The event is held outdoors and those attending are encouraged to dress accordingly for the weather. Seating is available; however, attendees are welcome to bring their own lawn chairs. Parking is available on the cemetery grounds.

The guest military speaker will be Command Master Chief Aloysius Nelson from Naval Station Great Lakes, IL. He served as Command Master Chief for the transient personnel unit, Great Lakes.

Also speaking will be Seth Perelman, Administrator of the Division of Veterans Benefits, who will represent the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs. Perelman oversees delivery of benefits to veterans including a wide array of loan and grant programs as well as funeral honors, cemetery services and assistance to homeless veterans.

Master of Ceremonies will be Marian Lewandowski, Director of the SWVMC. The Korean War Veterans Association Southeastern Wisconsin Chapter 227 will post the colors. Ethan Mianecki, Eagle Scout, will lead the Pledge of Allegiance. The National Anthem and other musical selections will be sung by Ms. Sandra Greil from Burlington, WI. Musical selections will be provided by the Milwaukee American Legion Band and the Celtic Nations Pipes and Drums. Father Dominic Roscioli, will offer the invocation and benediction. Taps will be sounded by Mike Langendorf of Langendorf Funeral Home from Racine, and a rifle salute will be presented by American Legion Post 171 from Union Grove. The Commemorative Air Force will conduct a flyover during the ceremony, weather permitting.

For further information about the Memorial Day Ceremony at Union Grove contact the SWVMC office at (262) 878-5660. In addition to the ceremony at Union Grove, WDVA will also host Memorial Day ceremonies at the Northern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery (NWVMC) in Spooner, at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 24th, and on Monday, May 25th at the Wisconsin Veterans Home at King, at 9:30 a.m. lakeside and then at 10:00 a.m. at the Central Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery (CWVMC) at King.

For more information on Wisconsin 2009 Memorial Day programs and ceremonies, as well as resources about Memorial Day and WDVA benefits and services, visit the department website at www.WisVets.com or call 1-800-WIS-VETS (947-8387).