Observances slated for Tomahawk, Merrill, Rhinelander
By MMC Staff
NORTHERN WISCONSIN – Veterans organizations and the public are set to celebrate Memorial Day with numerous ceremonies in the area.
Events are scheduled for Saturday, May 29, as well as on Memorial Day on Monday, May 31.
The Lincoln County Veterans Service Office announced they will observe the day with flags to mark veteran graves in the cemeteries.
“Volunteers from the area will be placing Memorial Day flags at the grave of veterans on record with the Lincoln County Veterans Service Office,” a release stated, noting that flags would be placed about a week before Memorial Day and removed about a week after the holiday.
The Veterans Service Office said volunteers “have had trouble in locating some of the graves due to burial after contact with the Veterans Office.”
“We ask relatives and friends of veterans buried in Lincoln County cemeteries to determine whether the graves are marked with a flag and flag holder,” the release said.
If a grave is not marked with a flag and holder, call the Lincoln County Veterans Service Office at 715-539-1083 to make arrangements to pick up the items. No walk-ins are accepted due to COVID-19.
Merrill area ceremonies
On Monday, May 24, VFW Post 1638 and volunteers placed cemetery grave flags at Merrill Memorial and St. Francis cemeteries in Merrill.
“Members of the Northwoods Veterans Post would like to have any community member bring in a picture of their deceased veteran(s) for a display that will show honor and respect of the fallen soldiers,” the release stated.
Those interested may bring pictures to the Northwoods Veterans Post, 601 Johnson St., Merrill, prior to Friday, May 28.
“We will ask that you fill out a form when you bring in the picture and that you promptly pick up (the) picture thereafter,” the release said.
The display will be available for public viewing from Friday, May 28 until Memorial Day on Monday, May 31, at the Northwoods Veterans Post during regular business hours.
On Memorial Day, Merrill VFW Post 1638 and other local organizations, including available members of American Legion, DAV, AMVETS, Auxiliaries, Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, and Girl Scouts, will honor the holiday beginning at 10:30 a.m. with a brass quintet from the Merrill City Band, followed by a ceremony at 11 a.m.
The full Merrill City Band is not yet back together; however, members Chad Premeau (trumpet), Nathan Grams (trumpet), Cindy Koehler (horn), Elli Wilk (trombone), and Hershel Webb (tuba) will provide music from the 17th through 21st centuries, including patriotic selections. This event and ceremony will be held at St. Francis Cemetery, Veterans Section, south of Thielman St., Merrill. In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony will be moved to Northwoods Veterans Post Hall. Regardless of the weather, following the observances, brats and hot dogs will be available for a free will donation at the Northwoods Veterans Post until 1:30 p.m.
Mar-Lin VFW Post 10203 in Hamburg’s Memorial Day ceremony schedule is as follows:
• 9:00 a.m., Salem, Town of Hamburg, Cty. Rd. A and Grass Creek Ln.
• 9:14 a.m., St. Paul’s, Town of Hamburg, Cty. Rd. L and Grass Creek Ln.
• 9:23 a.m., St. John’s, Town of Hamburg, Cty. Rd. L and Deer Creek Ln.
• 9:32 a.m., Fromm, Town of Hamburg, Cty. Rd. L and Schoolhouse Rd.
• 9:45 a.m., St. Peter, Little Chicago, Cty. Rd. A
• 10:10 a.m., Friedenshain, Town of Berlin, Cty. Rd. A and Valley Ln.
• 10:24 a.m., Rib View, Town of Stettin, Cty. Rd. O and Woodland Dr.
• 10:31 a.m., Bill Hill/Stubbe, Cty. Rd. A and Big Hill Ln.
• 10:45 a.m., Taegesville, Town of Berlin, N. 72nd Ave.
• 10:58 a.m., Maple Grove, Village of Maine, Naugart Dr.
• 11:14 a.m., St. Paul Naugart, Town of Berlin, Berlin Ln.
• 11:29 a.m., Trinity, Town of Berlin, Cty. Rd. FF and 107
• 11:44 a.m., St. Paul’s, Town of Corning, Hwy. 64/107 and Farmingdale Rd.
• 11:58 a.m., Immanuel, Town of Corning, Cty. Rd. M and Leafy Grove Rd.
For more information about Mar-Lin VFW Post 10203’s ceremony schedule, call Don Kozlowski at 715-573-3208.
Tomahawk area ceremonies
Ceremonies near Tomahawk and involving Tomahawk veterans organizations will begin on Saturday, May 29, when the Tomahawk Area Veterans Honor Guard will host a Veterans Memorial Ceremony at Prairie Rapids Cemetery at 9 a.m.
The Einar Ingman Veterans Memorial Motorcycle Honor Procession will organize at American Legion Post 93 in Tomahawk at 9 a.m. on Saturday, May 29, and will depart for Union Grove Cemetery, Harshaw, at 10:25 a.m. For more information on the motorcycle procession, contact Nick Blennert at 715-574-2060.
The Tomahawk Area Veterans Honor Guard will be present at the Union Grove Cemetery ceremony, which begins at 11:30 a.m. The observance will be followed by a luncheon at the Cassian Town Hall. For more information about the ceremony, contact Rick at 715-612-0332.
The Tomahawk Area Veterans Honor Guard will host a ceremony at Veterans Memorial Park in Tomahawk on Monday, May 31, at 9:30 a.m., followed by a 10:45 a.m. observance at Greenwood Cemetery in Tomahawk, an 11:15 a.m. ceremony at Calvary Cemetery in Tomahawk, and an 11:45 a.m. observance at Oak Hill Cemetery in the Town of Skanawan.
All times are approximate and subject to change. For more information, contact Bill Burcalow at 715-612-7118 or Gerry Johnson 715-453-7081.
On Saturday, May 29, the Tomahawk Area Veterans Honor Guard will place flags on the graves of veterans buried in area cemeteries. The flags will be removed the week after Memorial Day.
The list of cemeteries and points of contact for assistance after hours or on weekends are as follows:
Greenwood Cemetery, Bill Burcalow, 715-612-7118; Calvary Cemetery, Gerry Johnson, 715-453-7081; Oak Hill Cemetery, Mary Ingman, 715-453-2870; St. Augustine Cemetery, Kevin Haring, 715-218-2138; Prairie Rapids Cemetery Cliff Eggett, 715-453-5217; Somo Cemetery, Burcalow; Union Congregational, Burcalow.
Rhinelander area ceremonies
A Veterans Memorial Ceremony will take place at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, May 29 at Union Grove Cemetery on Lakewood Road in Harshaw. The event is presented by Veterans Ceremony Union Grove Cemetery, Inc. For more information, visit www.veteransceremony.org.
The Oneida County Veterans Council is hosting a public Memorial Day ceremony 10:30 a.m. on Monday, May 31 at the School District of Rhinelander’s Mike Webster Stadium. Preceding the ceremony, the following cemetery events are scheduled:
• 8:00 a.m., VFW Honor Guard at Newbold Cemetery
• 8:30 a.m., AmVets/American Legion Honor Guard at Northland Memorial Park
• 9:00 a.m., VFW Honor Guard at Forest Home Cemetery
• 9:00 a.m., AmVets/American Legion Honor Guard at Nativity of Our Lord Cemetery
All participants and attendees are strongly encouraged to wear a mask, and social distancing must be maintained. Because this is an outside ceremony, in the case of inclement weather, the ceremony will be canceled. For more information, contact the Oneida County Veterans Service Office at 715-369-6127.