On Monday, May 31st, we celebrate Memorial Day.
Since 1866, Americans have set aside a day in late May to honor our nation’s fallen soldiers. Our current Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day and began three years after the Civil War. The day was established for all Americans to decorate the graves of those who fell in the Civil War. But during World War I the United States found itself embroiled in another major conflict, and the holiday evolved to commemorate American military personnel who died in all wars.
For decades, Memorial Day continued to be observed on May 30, the date originally selected for the first Decoration Day. But in 1968 Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which established Memorial Day as the last Monday in May in order to create a three-day weekend for federal employees; the change went into effect in 1971. The same law also declared Memorial Day a federal holiday.
The National Moment of Remembrance was also established by Congress as an act of national unity. It is observed at 3 p.m. on Monday, May 31st for one minute.
Here is a list of Memorial Day programs and ceremonies that will be held throughout Racine and Kenosha Counties:
RACINE COUNTY
No official Racine County Memorial Day parade this year.
Village of Rochester - Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony
Monday, May 31st at 1:30 p.m.
155th consecutive Memorial Day celebration in the village
Parade begins at the Rochester Fire Department and ends at Pioneer Park.
The Ceremony is at Pioneer Park: 101 S. Front Street (Downtown Rochester)
Racine Memorial Day Ceremony- West Lawn Memorial Park Service
The event begins at 9:30 a.m. and is open to the public.
West Lawn Memorial Park and Cemetery, 9000 Washington Ave., Racine
Online stream:
Click.
KENOSHA COUNTY
Twin Lakes - Memorial Day Ceremony
American Legion Post 544, Twin Lakes
Monday, May 31
Ceremony to start at Mound Prairie Cemetery at 9 a.m., then move to St. John’s Cemetery at 9:30 a.m. Parade from Lance Park to the American Legion post to begin at 11 a.m., with a ceremony to follow at the Legion post.
989 Lance Drive, Twin Lakes
Kenosha
Memorial Day Ceremony – to include singing of the National Anthem and “Eternal Father,” a flower dedication.
Navy Club Ship 40, Kenosha
Monday, May 31, 11 a.m.
Navy Park, Sixth Avenue and 54th Street, Kenosha
Memorial Day Ceremony
American Legion Post 21, Kenosha
Monday May 31, 10 a.m.
Green Ridge Cemetery, 6604 Seventh Ave., Kenosha
Memorial Day Ceremony
Sunset Ridge Memorial Park and American Legion David Leet Post 552
Sunday, May 30, 11 a.m.
Sunset Ridge Memorial Park, 4300 Green Bay Road, Kenosha
Memorial Day Ceremony
VFW Post 7308, Pleasant Prairie Memorial Post
Monday, May 31, noon
Old St. Mark’s Cemetery, Ninth Court and 78th Street, Kenosha
Memorial Day and Flag Retirement ceremonies
VFW Post 1865, Kenosha
Monday, May 31. Memorial Day Ceremony at 11 a.m., Flag Retirement Ceremony at 2p.m.
VFW Post 1865, 6618 39th Ave., Kenosha
Memorial Day Ceremony – to include POW/MIA Service
Kenosha Area Vietnam Veterans
Monday, May 31, noon
Library Park, 711 59th Place, Kenosha
Canceled for 2021:
The annual Silver Lake Memorial Day parade and ceremony.
The annual Memorial Day ceremony at Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Union Grove.
