October 31, 2008

Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs to host Veterans Day Ceremony at Spooner
The theme for Veterans Day – 2008 – “Generations of Thanks for Generations of Service”

(MADISON) – Locally, there will be a 1:00 p.m. ceremony on Tuesday, November 11, on Veterans Day, at the Northern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery (NWVMC). The cemetery is located just off Highway 53, three miles south of Spooner, at N4063 Veterans Way. Veterans, veterans’ families and the public are invited to attend.

The keynote speaker will be Command Sergeant Major John W. Vacho. CSM Vacho graduated from Ladysmith High School and in 1974 enlisted in the Wisconsin Army National Guard. CSM Vacho assumed the duties as the CSM of the 88th Regional Readiness Command on October 9, 2005. The 88th Regional Readiness Command, located at Fort Snelling, MN encompasses six states and commands 15,000 citizen soldiers.

Also speaking will be Seth Perelman, Division Administrator for Veterans Benefits with the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs. Mr. Perelman was commissioned a 2nd LT in the U.S. Air Force in 1968 and served in both the USAF and the Wisconsin Air National Guard until his retirement as a Colonel in 2001.

Master of Ceremonies will be Matthew Bergs, Director of the NWVMC. The WDVA Military Funeral Honors Team will post the colors and Taps will be sounded by Darren Davis. Master Sergeant (retired U.S. Army) Brad Zimmerman and his sons PFCs Ethan & Joshua will lead the Pledge of Allegiance. Veterans from their respective service branch along with their families will post the service flags. Father Eugene Hornung will offer the Invocation and Benediction. The National Anthem and other musical selections will be sung by the Spooner High School Select Choir along with Kurt Kunkel and Destiny Schultz. Doug Stubbe, Burnett County Veterans Service Officer (CVSO), will read the“Missing Man Remembrance.” Barron Asst. CVSO SGM Dawn Anderson and husband SFC Ron Anderson will place the Wreath of Remembrance. The ceremonial honor guard salute will be presented by the Spooner Area Honor Guard.

The cemetery is centrally located on Highway 53 between Eau Claire and Superior to serve veterans and their families in northern Wisconsin. Dedicated in June 2001, the Northern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery is operated by the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs.

"Our cemetery is a lasting monument to achievements and sacrifices of northern Wisconsin veterans on behalf of our nation and freedom throughout the world," said Matthew Bergs, Director of the NWVMC. "It is fitting to honor them on Veterans Day."

The WDVA will also be hosting a Veterans Day ceremony at the Marden Center Multi-Purpose Room at the Wisconsin Veterans Home at King at 10:30 a.m.

For further information on Veterans Day, go to www.WisVets.com/VeteransDay. For information on other veterans programs and services visit www.WisVets.com or call 1-800-WIS-VETS (947-8387).