For the Star Journal

Preparations are underway in the Northwoods for Memorial Day ceremonies taking place Saturday, May 25 and Monday, May 27.

At Northwoods National Cemetery in Harshaw, members of the American Legion Riders District 11 placed flags at the graves of fallen Servicemembers Thursday morning. The cemetery will host a Memorial day ceremony, Monday, May 27, at 2:30 p.m.

Other ceremonies in the Rhinelander area:

Saturday, May 25

The annual Veteran Memorial will be held at 11:30 a.m. at Union Grove Cemetery. The event is co-sponsored by Union Grove Veterans Memorial Committee and Veterans Ceremony-Union Grove Cemetery, Inc., located on Lakewood Road in Harshaw. Lunch will follow at the Town Hall.

Monday, May 27

8 a.m.    VFW Honor Guard at Newbold Cemetery

8:30 a.m.  AmVets/American Legion Honor Guard at Northland Memorial Park

9 a.m.    VFW Honor Guard at Forest Home Cemetery

9 a.m. AmVets/American Legion Honor Guard at Nativity of Our Lord cemetery

Rhinelander High School ceremony

The Oneida County Veterans Council invites the community to join them Monday, May 27, as they pause to remember and honor fallen military heroes who fought to create, preserve and defend the freedom of the United States of America. The ceremony will begin at 10:30 a.m. at the John and Dori Brown Performing Arts Center in the Rhinelander High School. This year’s guest speaker is Colonel Douglas Stubbe, U.S. Army retired. The ceremony will be emceed by James Heck, soon-to-be 2024 Rhinelander High School graduate.

Additional events will include Posting of the Colors by the Northwoods Honor Guard followed by the singing of the “Star Spangled Banner” by the RHS Showdags, under the direction of Chloe Shepard.

Pastor Ken White will give the invocation and the RHS band will play “Eternal Father.” Band director is Jacob Kulba.

-Presentation to Navy veteran Kristine Hawn by Tony Schoone

-Scholarship award presentations by Skip Dulin, Commander, Disabled American Veterans Post 62

-“Gettysburg Address,” read by Alyssa Smits, 2024 veterans Council scholarship recipient

-“Armed Forces – The Pride of America,” performed by RHS band and Showdags

-The last roll call of Oneida County veterans who died between May 2023-May 2024

-“In Flanders Fields,” read by Ashlynn Klabunde, 2024 Veterans Council Scholarship recipient

-“In Flanders Fields,” performed by the Showdags

-Benediction by Pastor White

-Retire the colors

Upon conclusion of the program, the Northwoods Honor Guard will fire a three volley salute; 2024 RHS senior Nick Lesch will perform “Taps.”