Memorial Day plans in the Driftless

Friday, May 27, 2022 1:06 pm

Decorah
The Monday, May 30, Memorial Day celebration in Decorah will be observed with a parade and program held at the courthouse north steps. Veterans are encouraged to meet on 5th Avenue near the Decorah Bridge by 9:30 a.m., to march in the parade. Cars and an American flag will be provided to those who can’t march.
Maurice Collins has been named Parade Marshal. Collins is a U.S. Army Korean War Veteran who served from 1951 to 53 as a corporal in the 2nd Field Artillery Battalion. He has been an American Legion member for 69 years, and a Veterans of Foreign Wars member for 68 years. 
The parade route begins at the West Decorah Bridge at 10 a.m. Following a Memorial Service at the bridge, the parade continues down College Drive to Water Street, then to Court Street, and to the north steps of the Courthouse, a change from previous years. 
At the courthouse, Les Askelson will present a Memorial Day message and respects will be paid to Veterans of Winneshiek County who have passed away in the past 12 months. Following, all attending Veterans will be called to the courthouse steps as their service anthems are played. 
Askelson, owner/manager of LA Communications, has been very active in county organizations and boards and he was instrumental in getting the 2020 Memorial Day celebration on the radio due to COVID restrictions.
Weather permitting, there will be a fly-over with a replica P-51 Mustang World War II fighter flown by Leon Felke, and a 1937 Steerman biplane flown by Brian Petersburg.
All Veterans are invited to the All Vets Club for a free lunch following the ceremonies. 

Ossian
All veterans are invited to attend and participate in the Ossian Memorial Day event Monday, May 30, beginning with a breakfast at the Wild Woods Event Center in Ossian, hosted by the Ossian Boy Scouts at 6:30 a.m. 
Honors ceremonies will be held by the American Legion, Brockman-Hammersland Post #503, at local Ossian cemeteries: Bethany Lutheran at 7:45 a.m., First Lutheran at 8 a.m., Stavanger Lutheran at 8:15 a.m., Silver Springs at 8:30 a.m. honoring those lost at sea, Hillside at 8:45 a.m., Bloomfield at 9 a.m., Castalia Veterans memorial at 9:15 a.m., Pleasant View at 9:30 a.m., Centennial at 9:45 a.m., and St. Francis De Sales at 10 a.m.  
The Memorial Day parade will begin with a memorial salute at the Veterans Memorial in Carey’s Park immediately prior to the start of the Memorial Day parade at 10:30 a.m. The parade route will start at Carey’s Park Veterans Memorial, down Main Street to the Ossian Post Office, returning to the Wild Woods Event Center for an 11 a.m. Memorial Day Program.  
Any veteran wishing to march or ride in the parade should be at Carey’s Park at 10:15 a.m. 
Weather, road and sidewalk construction are factors in the Memorial Day event schedule. Notice of any change or cancellation of the event will be posted on the city sign board in Carey’s Park prior to Memorial Day.

Calmar
The Calmar Legion Post 266 will be honoring Veterans on Monday, May 30, at the following cemeteries: 7:30 a.m., Springfield Lutheran; 7:45 a.m., Calmar Lutheran; 8 a.m., Festina; 8:15 a.m., St. Aloysius; 8:45 a.m., City; 9 a.m., Lake Meyer; 9:30 a.m., Freedom Rock, Calmar.
The public is invited to join for remembrances at the cemeteries and are welcome to the Calmar Senior Citizen Center for refreshments following.

New Albin
Memorial Day Services for the City of New Albin will be held Monday, May 30, at 9 a.m. at the New Albin Community Center, 137 Railroad Avenue SW. 
The Kee High Jr. Band will play several songs and Alex Goetzinger will read the Gettysburg Address. John Colsch and Wayne Meyer will speak about Lt. John Colsch, Air Force and Warren Meyer, Marines. Pastor Paul Burgess will provide the Invocation and Benediction. Volley and Taps will be at the Veterans Memorial City Park, New Albin and St. Joseph’s Cemetery, New Albin.

Elma
A flag-raising ceremony will be held at 6:30 a.m. in front of Memorial Hall/American Legion in Elma on Memorial Day, Monday, May 30. At 7:30 a.m., all Veterans, active duty, retired, reservist, National Guard and legion members are requested to be in uniform, if possible, at the Elma Legion to proceed with services. 
Services are as follows: St. Patrick of St. Cecelia, 8 a.m.; Colonial Manor, 8:30 a.m.; Maple Leaf, 9 a.m.; Lourdes, 9:30 a.m.; and Elma, 11 a.m.

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