From placing flags on Southern Door gravesites on Sunday to throwing a wreath into the water at Schoolhouse Beach on Washington Island on Monday, Memorial Day is more than just a holiday weekend in Door County. With ceremonies also taking place in Sturgeon Bay and Sister Bay, Memorial Day is the only holiday that recognizes the ultimate sacrifice made by military families. County Veterans Service Officer Scott McFarlane will be the master of ceremonies for the Sturgeon Bay ceremony featuring United States 8th District Congressperson Mike Gallagher as its keynote speaker. McFarlane says it is important to know Memorial Day is not just a historical holiday.
The Sturgeon Bay ceremony will be held inside the city’s fire station while celebrations in Southern Door, Sister Bay, and Washington Island will be held outdoors. You can find the full schedule online with this story.
THE FIRING SQUAD FROM THE GEORGE W. GOETZ POST 372 FORESTVILLE AMERICAN LEGION WILL CONDUCT MEMORIAL DAY SERVICES AT THE FOLLOWING PLACES AND APPROXIMATE TIMES ON SUNDAY MAY 26TH
FORESTVILLE TOWN (MAPLEWOOD)---------------7:
NAMUR (PIT ROAD) -------------------------7:
BROCKHAUSEN ------------------------------
MIESERE ------------------------------
BROWN ------------------------------
KOLBERG-----------------------
BRUSSELS----------------------
WHITE STAR--------------------------
PRECIOUS BLOOD-------------------------
ST. JOE CATHOLIC (Fox Ln.)--------------------------
STEVENSON---------------------
GEISES------------------------
BREAK (9:20-9:45)
MAPLEWOOD---------------------
CARNOT------------------------
CLAY BANKS TOWN--------------------------
VIGNES------------------------
MOUNT OLIVE-------------------------
SHILOH MORAVIAN----------------------
SCHUMACHER--------------------
HAINESVILLE-------------------
SALEM-SCHULTIES---------------
FORESTVILLE-------------------
OLD CATHOLIC (BETWEEN MAPLEWOOD & FORESTVILLE)------------------
Sturgeon Bay: On Monday, May 27th, brief ceremonies will be conducted at Bayside Cemetery at 8:30 a.m., St. Joseph’s Cemetery at 9:00 a.m., and Sturgeon Bay Health Services (formerly known as the Dorchester) at 9:30 a.m. The main ceremony will be at 10:00 a.m. in the Sturgeon Bay Fire Department bays. The Chaplain will be Pastor Sauer and the speaker will be Congressman Gallagher. The Peninsula Symphonic Band will play patriotic music before and during the ceremony. American Legion Post 72 will provide the rifle squad and Andy Anderson and Mary Nickel will sound echo Taps. Refreshments will be available after the ceremony and will be provided by Marine Corps League Detachment 1130. Chairs will be available – please bring lawn chairs if you are arriving closer to the start time of the ceremony – as the number of chairs is limited.
3. Northern Door: Monday, May 27th – at both 8:30 a.m. (Hendrickson Park) and 10:30 a.m. (Little Sister Cemetery) – please see the Sister Bay attachment. The public is encouraged to bring lawn chairs.
4. Washington Island: Monday, May 27th. The Island ceremony will be held at 10:30 a.m. at Bethel Church. There will be a prayer, patriotic music, and a program based on the American Legion Centennial Celebration. The emphasis of the program will be on Islanders’ veterans involvement in the wars of the Centennial time period. Everyone will then march to the cemetery where there will be a reading of the names of departed comrades, rifle squad, and a bugler sounding Taps. Everyone will then march to Schoolhouse Beach – where there will be a laying of a wreath in the water for those lost at sea. A bagpiper will play Amazing Grace.
