Memorial Day Parade to once again honor soldiers' sacrifices

Rain or shine, thousands will line the streets in Appleton on Monday for the annual Memorial Day Parade to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice to defend American rights and freedom.

“Memorial Day is a time for our community to come together in reflection and gratitude,” said Corey Otis, City of Appleton Parade Committee Chairperson. “Through the parade and ceremony, we honor those who gave their lives in service and reaffirm our commitment to remembering their sacrifice.”

The Appleton parade will begin at 9 a.m. at the corner of College Avenue and Appleton Street. The route will proceed east on College Avenue, north on Meade Street, and east on Pacific Street and ending at Riverside Cemetery at the corner of Pacific Street and Owaissa Street.

The “Moment of Remembrance” ceremony will feature speeches and poems by several Appleton high school students. Addison Walt, an Appleton North High School junior, will be this year’s keynote speaker. Other students speaking include Kalayna Small from Appleton East; Maggie Leon from Appleton West; Anna Buschkopf from Fox Valley Lutheran; and MaKenzie Ness from Xavier. 

Appleton Mayor Jake Woodford and Chaplain Bob Johnson from American Legion Post 38 will share remarks. Bagpiper Drew Grunwald, MacDowell Male Chorus, and the Appleton City Band will provide patriotic music. The ceremony will end with a rifle salute by members of Appleton American Legion Post 38 and Appleton VFW Post 2778. Taps will be played to close the “Moment of Remembrance.”

After the Civil War ended in 1865, Americans began holding local tributes to the fallen soldiers.  The earliest Memorial Day commemoration on record occurred on May 1, 1865, at the race track in Charleston, South Carolina. A crowd of 10,000 people, mostly freed slaves, paraded around the racetrack to honor the more than 260 Union prisoners who had been buried in a mass grave behind the grandstands.

General John A. Logan, leader of an organization for Northern Civil War veterans, called for a nationwide “Decoration Day.” The first Decoration Day was held at Arlington National Cemetery on May 30, 1886, where 5,000 participants decorated the graves of the 20,000 Civil War soldiers buried there.

Memorial Day became an official federal holiday in 1971.

Many American Legion posts also sponsor Memorial Day ceremonies in their local communities.  Another option is to participate in Taps Across America.  Every Memorial Day at 3 p.m. Americans across the country pause to honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.  Musicians of all ages, abilities, and instruments unite in a moving, nationwide performance of Taps —the 24-note melody that has honored fallen service members for more than 150 years.