Door County Memorial Day Events

Southern Door

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 24:

Town of Forestville, 7:20 am; Namur (Pit Road), 7:30 am; Brockhausen, 7:40 am; Miesere, 7:50 am; Brown, 7:55 am; Kolberg, 8:05 am; Brussels, 8:20 am; White Star, 8:30 am; Precious Blood, 8:40 am; Stevenson, 9 am; Geises, 9:10 am; Old Catholic (between Maplewood & Forestville), 9:25 am; Maplewood, 9:55 am; Carnot, 10:10 am; Clay Banks, 10:25 am; Vignes, 10:35 am; Mount Olive, 10:45 am; Shiloh Moravian, 10:55 am; Schumacher, 11:05 am; Hainesville, 11:15 am; Salem-Schulties, 11:35 am; Forestville, 11:50 am.

Immediately after the last cemetery, the veterans go to Forestville Town Hall where the names of the recently deceased are read.

Little Sister Cemetery

A short ceremony will be held on Monday, May 25, at 8:30 am at Hendrickson Park (the corner of Hwy. 42 and Mill Road). At 10:30 am, American Legion Billy Weiss Post 527 and VFW Post 8337 welcome all to the Memorial Day Ceremony at Little Sister Cemetery. The Gibraltar Band kicks things off with patriotic songs. At 10:30 am, veterans present colors at the Eldred and Mildred Koepsel Memorial Flag Pole. The National Anthem is then played by the Gibraltar Band and sung by guests. Commander Bill Becker of American Legion Billy Weiss Post 527 will welcome all, which will be followed by an invocation by Gary Scharrig, lay pastor at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Juddville.

After the Pledge of Allegiance by members of the Boy Scouts, the First Baptist Church choir will present a selection of songs.

First District Assemblyman Joel Kitchens will speak, followed by Captain Cary Godwin of the United States Coast Guard Mobile Bay.

Veteran Charles Eckhardt will lead the Gibraltar School band in a salute to the military branches of the armed forces, followed by a special reading by 1st Vice Commander Tom Kowalski.

Don Sitte, adjutant of American Legion Post 527, and Davis Sitte, VFW Post 8337, will read the names of Northern Door veterans who have died within the past year.

Dale Seaquist will perform “Taps” for the 68th consecutive year, with Charles Eckhardt sounding echo. Amanda Larson will sing “God Bless America.”

Sturgeon Bay

On Monday, May 25, brief ceremonies will be conducted at Bayside Cemetery at 8:30 am, St. Joseph’s cemetery at 9 am, and the Dorchester at 9:30 am. The ceremony at the Door County Veterans Memorial (in front of City Hall) will begin at 10 am. The Chaplain will be Pastor Kolterjahn and American Legion Post 72 will provide the rifle squad. The speaker will be Vietnam veteran David Riva. The Peninsula Symphonic Band will play patriotic music before and during the ceremony. Andy Anderson and Mary Nickel will sound “Taps.” Refreshments after the ceremony will be provided by AMVETS Post 51. The public is asked to bring lawn chairs as seating will be limited. In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony will be held in the Sturgeon Bay Fire Department bays.

Washington Island

On Monday, May 25, the Island ceremony will be held at 10:30 am at Bethel Church. Ellen Graf will talk about the Quilts of Valor program and there will be a reading of student essays. Everyone will then march to the cemetery where there will be bagpipes, a rifle squad, and a bugler sounding “Taps.” The names of departed comrades will be read, followed by a prayer and the placement of a wreath at Schoolhouse Beach.