News Article

November 1, 2012

Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs to Host Veterans Day Observance at Spooner
“Year of the Veteran”

MADISON – Locally, there will be a 1:00 p.m. observance on Sunday, November 11, 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, their families and the public are invited to attend.

The keynote speaker will be Representative Nick Milroy from the 73rd Assembly District. Rep. Milroy served in the U.S. Navy 1992-1994 and served in the U.S. Naval Reserves 1994-2000; deployed to the Persian Gulf during Operation Southern Watch. He was elected to the Assembly in 2008.

Also speaking will be COL Paul Wharton, U.S. Army, retiring in 1998 after serving 30 years. The Colonel is a Vietnam veteran and in 2003 began serving 5 years in Afghanistan as a mentor to the Afghan General in charge establishing the education system for the Afghan National Army and other assignments.

Ron Moser, the Rusk County Veterans Service Officer, will also speak. Mr. Moser entered the U.S. Air Force in June 1971 and served until December 1994. He has held the position of Rusk CVSO since April 2008.

Master of Ceremonies will be Matt Bergs, NWVMC Director.

To be featured during the program:

• Members of the Spooner Area Honor Guard will Post the Colors.
• TAPS will be sounded by Jean Gustafson.
• Larry Leff, Barron County Veterans Service Committee Chair, will lead the Pledge of Allegiance.
• Veterans from their respective service branch will post the service flags.
• Pastor Virgil Amundson will offer the Invocation and Benediction.
• The National Anthem and additional song selections will be sung by the Spooner High School Select Choir.
• Lisa McNeally, Washburn Asst County Veterans Service Officer, will read the “Missing Man Remembrance.”
• The Bradley Larson Family will place the Wreath of Remembrance in memory of all veterans passed.
• The ceremonial honor guard salute will be presented by Springbrook Trego Earl VFW Post 10568.

The names of veterans and spouses that were buried at the Northern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery since Veterans Day 2011 will be read beginning at 12:30 P.M.

“On Veterans Day, we honor the legacy of those men and women veterans, those who are serving, and their families for the sacrifices they make for our freedom,” said Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) Secretary John A. Scocos.

Operated by the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs and dedicated in June 2001, the cemetery is centrally located on Highway 53 between Eau Claire and Superior to serve veterans and their families in northern Wisconsin.

For further information about the Veterans Day observance at the NWVMC in Spooner, call (715) 635-5360.