Southeast Wisconsin communities observe Memorial Day with several ceremonies and events

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) — Southeast Wisconsin communities noticed Memorial Day with parades, wreath-laying ceremonies, and different occasions. 

In Elm Grove, folks loved the summer-like solar and warmth to salute America’s navy women and men. A few of these veterans had been within the crowd, applauding the parade. 

“Simply remembering my buddies and brothers that I served with in Iraq, I used to be in Iraq for 2 years. Simply one other day to get an opportunity to recollect our buddies,” stated Sean Frye, military veteran. 

Elm Grove’s parade dates again to 1947, when the native legion marched to a church for a flag ceremony. 

In Franklin, Linda Pfeiffer from the American Legion pointed to a unbroken drawback for veterans. She spoke earlier than a memorial day ceremony and provided a message for veterans who’re hurting or struggling. 

“There’s been too many which have been gone this yr, particularly to suicide. We have misplaced 18 folks within the Milwaukee space to suicide this previous yr,” Pfeiffer stated. “All they should do is name one in every of us and we’ll assist them and we’ve got locations that we are able to ship them out to the VA Medical Heart, or simply speak to us and we’ll enable you by means of it. That is what we’re right here for.”

Forest House Cemetery in Milwaukee had their very own ceremony to honor the fallen troops. Whereas some folks laid wreathes on the graves of individuals they knew, many needed to additionally honor those they didn’t know to indicate they’re acknowledged. 

“We do not understand how they died. We simply know that they’ve died and there may be somebody to be memorialized and to be acknowledged.”

The tribute in Franklin was adopted by a flag retirement ceremony on the native VFW submit. 

New Berlin held its Memorial Day ceremony on the Highland Memorial Park Cemetery Monday morning. The New Berlin Neighborhood Band carried out and it ended with a balloon launch with memorial tags. 

We met Captain Ron Lampe there. He is a veteran of the Vietnam Conflict and a retired New Berlin firefighter captain. Lampe stated Memorial Day is one in every of his favorites as a result of so many individuals can come and honor the veterans.

“The factor that astounds me is you check out this cemetery and also you see all of the American flags, and all these folks have served within the navy…every one in every of these flags, and you do not actually understand if you see a cemetery what number of are buried right here till you see all of the flags on a day like at the moment,” Lampe stated. 

Lampe stated he’s a really devoted veteran lately. When he is not attending to his honor guard duties, Lampe travels the nation in his cellular dwelling after he offered his home greater than 20 years in the past.