The flags and ceremonies you see this weekend remembering fallen soldiers of Door County are often organized by those who served alongside them. On Thursday, Door County Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3088 will be placing approximately 1,400 flags on the graves of veterans at St. Joseph and Bayside cemeteries. It is a tradition Post Quartermaster and submarine veteran Bill Graf has participated in for the last 10 years, though he remembers his father doing it when he was younger. It makes him smile knowing that he is helping keep the tradition alive and that many others are making it a Memorial Day tradition for their own families as well.
People wishing to help are invited to start their day at the Bayside Cemetery Chapel on Thursday at 9 a.m. with a rain date scheduled for May 26th. George W. Goetz Post 372 Forestville American Legion’s firing squad will continue its tradition of visiting 23 Southern Door cemeteries on Sunday beginning at 7:20 a.m. and ending just after noon. You can see that full schedule along with the other Memorial Day weekend activities throughout Door County below.
LIST OF MEMORIAL DAY ACTIVITIES
Southern Door
Sunday, May 28th
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. POC—Bill Karas (920) 857-8008.
Forestville Town (Maplewood)......... 7:20 (Split Squad)
Namur (Pit Road).............................. 7:30 (Split Squad)
BrockHausen...................................... 7:40 (Split Squad)
Miesere.............................................. 7:50 (Split Squad)
Brown................................................ 7:55 (Split Squad)
Kolberg............................................... 8:05
Brussels............................................. 8:20
White Star....................................... 8:30
Precious Blood................................. 8:40
St. Joe Catholic (Fox Ln.).................. 8.50
Stevenson.......................................... 9:00
Geises................................................ 9:10
Break ................................................. (9:20-9:45)
Maplewood.................................................. 9:55
Carnot.......................................................... 10:10
Clay Banks Town.......................................... 10:25
Vignes.......................................................... 10:35
Mount Olive................................................. 10:45
Shiloh Moravian.......................................... 10:55
Schumacher................................................. 11:05
Hainesville................................................... 11:15
Salem-Schulties........................................... 11:35
Forestville.................................................... 11:50
Old Catholic (Between Maplewood & Forestville) 12:10
Sturgeon Bay
Monday, May 29th
Brief ceremonies will be conducted at Bayside Cemetery at 8:30 a.m., St. Joseph’s Cemetery at 9:00 a.m., Sturgeon Bay Health Services (formerly the Dorchester) at 9:30 a.m., and the main ceremony will be at 10:00 a.m. at the Sturgeon Bay Fire Department. The Peninsula Symphonic Band under the direction of Jason Palmer will play throughout the ceremony. Please bring lawn chairs if arriving closer to the start time of the ceremony—as the number of chairs will be limited. POC—Door County Veterans Office (920) 746-2225.
Northern Door
Monday, May 29th
Little Sister Cemetery (in case of rain, First Baptist Church) – May 30th at 10:30 A.M. The Schedule is listed below:
Gibraltar Band, under direction of Charles Eckhardt, plays patriotic songs before ceremony.
10:30 A.M. Veterans will post the Colors.
Place the Battle Field Cross.
All rise for National Anthem, Gibraltar Band.
Continue standing for the Pledge of Allegiance led by members of Boy Scout Troop #1120.
Invocation by Rev. Sue Gunderson.
Welcome by Billy Weiss Post 527 Commander Kowalski.
Dale Seaquist leads choir in songs.
Mixed choir led by Dale Seaquist.
Introduction of guest speaker Mike Vizer.
Band will play a salute to all military branches.
A veterans poem will be read by Commander Kowalski.
Names of deceased 2022-2023 veterans read by Don Sitte.
Benediction by Rev. Sue Gunderson.
Veterans prepare for closing ceremonies.
Sounding of Taps by Dale Sequist and echo sounded by Charles Eckhardt.
Dave Gunderson singing of "God Bless America"
