To honor the people who died while serving their country, here are some of the 2023 Memorial Day observances taking place in the Milwaukee area.
They include parades, services, a charity walk for Operation Finally Home and Memorial Day masses.
Memorial Day is Monday, May 29. Many, but not all, events are on the 29th.
This is not a comprehensive list. Check with your local veterans organization for more information on other local events. These events are free unless otherwise noted.
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Catholic Archdiocese
What:Memorial Day Masses at Catholic cemeteries of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee
When: 10 a.m. May 29
Where:St. Adalbert Cemetery, 3801 S. Sixth St., Milwaukee; Holy Cross Cemetery, 7301 W. Nash St., Milwaukee; Mount Olivet Cemetery, 3801 W. Morgan Ave., Milwaukee; St. Joseph Cemetery, S22 W22890 Broadway, Waukesha; Resurrection Cemetery, 9401 W. Donges Bay Road, Mequon; All Saints Cemetery, 3300 Springbrook Road, Pleasant Prairie; and Calvary Cemetery, 5503 West Blue Mound Road, Milwaukee.
For more information: Visit www.cemeteries.org/Cemeteries.htm
Belfrēdom 5K Run/Walk for Wisconsin Hero Outdoors in Delafield
What: This is a 5K run/walk to help raise money for Wisconsin Hero Outdoors. WHO helps veterans and first responders to aid in suicide prevention by using outdoor activities and relationships to address issues that occur with the stresses of their service. Afterwards, at the Belfrē Kitchen parking lot, there will be live music by Candy Cigarette and Steeplechase Coffee + co*cktails will be onsite selling food and drinks.
When: Run/Walk begins at 9 a.m. May 28, registration is prior with packet pick-up at 8 a.m. Post-race party begins at 10:30 a.m.
Where: St. Johns Northwestern Academies, 1101 N. Genesee St., Delafield; the post event is at the Belfrē Kitchen parking lot, 606 N. Genesee St., Delafield.
Cost: $35 per person until May 18; $40 from May 19 to May 28
To register and for more information: Visit https://runsignup.com/Race/Events/WI/Delafield/Belfredom
Elm Grove
What:Memorial Day parade
When:10:30 a.m. May 29.Parade participants need to arrive between 8:45 a.m. and 9:15 a.m.
Where:The parade route begins at Elm Grove Village Park and ends at Elm Grove Road and WallStreet
For more information or questions:Emailmemorialday@elmgrovejuniorguild.org or visitwww.elmgrovejuniorguild.org/Memorial-day-parade
Menomonee Falls
Falls Memorial Fest
What:This event is slated to include more than 60 vendors, live music, food and beverages, a car show, a 5K run/walk for Operation Finally Home, a KidsFest and a Lucky Ducky Derby
When:8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, May 27. The 5K for Operation Finally Home begins at 8 a.m. The opening ceremony and the car show both begin at 10 a.m. and the rest of the festivities are spread throughout the day
Where:Downtown Menomonee Falls, including Village Park,N87 W16749 Garfield Drive, andMill Pond Park,N88 W16460 Main St.
Cost:Free admission
For more information and for a complete schedule:Visitwww.menomoneefallsdowntown.com
Memorial Day parade
What and where: The parade begins on Main Street at Harrison Avenue, travels to downtown Menomonee Falls and continues west on Main Street, then north on Grand Avenue to end at the parking lot at Neu's Building Center,N95 W16915 Falls Parkway.
When: 10 a.m. May 29
For more information: Visit www.fallsparades.org/memorial-day
Operation Finally Home 5K
What:This event is a fundraiser for Operation Finally Home,a nonprofit that provides homes and home modifications to wounded, ill or injured veterans, first responders and their families.Operation Finally Home has gifted veteran families with homes and plans to continuethatwork.
When:8 a.m. May 27 packet pickup and race day registration. The Kids 1K starts at 8:45 a.m. The 5K starts at 9 a.m. Awards are at 10 a.m.
Where:The race begins in Mill Pond Park, N88 W16460 Main St., adjacent to the pavilion, just north of the downtown waterfall
Cost:$37.50 for individuals for the 5K if registered by May 26 and $40 for same-day registration. The 1K kids race is free.
For more information and to register: https://runsignup.com/Race/WI/MenomoneeFalls/OperationFINALLYHome5K.
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Milwaukee
Memorial Day at Forest Home Cemetery
What: Memorial Day at Forest Home Cemetery begins with a memorial service at the Ferry & Clas chapel, followed by a wreath-laying ceremony in the Garden of Honor, the veteran section. Afterwards, there will be stories from the cemetery with numerous costumed historical re-enactors and then a free Milwaukee history tour.
When: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on May 29. From 11 to 11:30 a.m., there is the memorial service and the wreath-laying; 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. is a visit with notable Milwaukeeans; 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. hot dogs, bratwurst, chips and soda will be available for a $7 donation to the Forest Home Historic Preservation Association and from 2:30 to 4 p.m. is the Milwaukee history tour. The tour ends at 4 p.m., but people may stay until the cemetery locks at 7 p.m.
Where:Forest Home Cemetery, 2405 W.Forest Home Ave.
Cost:Free but preregistration recommended
For more information and for registration information:https://bit.ly/MDatForestHomeCemetery
Field of Flags
What: To remember the fallen men and women, volunteers at the War Memorial Center will be placing 15,015 flags this year to represent Wisconsinites killed in action.
When: The ceremony will be at 6 p.m. May 29. Flag placement begins Monday, May 22, through Friday, May 26, throughout the day
Where:Veterans Park. Ceremony is north of the War Memorial Center, 1010 N. Lincoln Memorial Drive.
For more information or to volunteer for flag placement:Visit https://warmemorialcenter.org
Memorial Day ceremony at Wood National Cemetery
What: The public is invited to a Memorial Day ceremony at, at Wood National Cemetery. The Milwaukee American Legion Band will give a pre-ceremony concert. This year’s ceremony theme is We Pledge to Remember. Limited seating is available at the outdoor event.
When:9 a.m. May 29
Where:Wood National Cemetery, flagpole / memorial area, 5000 W. National Ave.
For more information: Call The Cemetery Office at 414-382-5300 or emailwoodnationalcemetery@va.gov
Mukwonago
What: The Mukwonago Memorial Day parade with a ceremony at the end of the parade at the Mukwonago Community Library
When: 9:30 a.m. May 29. Parade participants will line up at 9 a.m.
Where: The parade will begin at Park View Middle School, 930 N. Rochester St. and go through Highway 83 and stop at the cemetery on that route for a raising of the colors by the honor guard and a prayer by the American Legion Post chaplain. The parade will continue to Washington Avenue, heading east to Washington Park, near Mukwonago Community Library, 511 Division St.
For more information: Call the Mukwonago Community Library at 262-363-6411.
Oconomowoc
What: Oconomowoc's traditional Memorial Day remembrance begins at the City Beach Band Shell with a concert by the Legion Band followed by a processional through downtown, stopping and ending in the La Belle Cemetery.
When: 10 to 11:30 a.m. May 29
Where: The event begins at the band shell, 324 W. Wisconsin Ave.followed by a processional through downtown, stopping at the bridge on Walnut Street and then ending in the La Belle Cemetery, 700 E. Grove St.
For more information: www.visitoconomowoc.com/calendar
Waukesha
What:TheMemorial Day commemoration will begin with a service at the Barstow Plaza to gather together and cast flowers into the river in tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice, followed by a parade and concluding with a Memorial Day Service program. This program will feature the Waukesha Civic Band to perform the National Emblem March.
When: 9 a.m. to noon May 29. The service begins at 9 a.m.; the parade at 10:15 a.m.and the Waukesha Civic Band performance is at 11.
Where:The service is at Barstow Plaza, 141 NW Barstow St. The parade will start at the Lee Sherman Dreyfus State Office Building, 141 NW Barstow St., and proceed down Main Street to Maple Avenue before ending at Park Avenue. The Memorial Day program will be at Cutler Park, 321 Wisconsin Ave.
For more information and for the parade route:Visitbit.ly/WaukMemorialDay. For questions email Pat Craney, President of Waukesha Allied Veterans at pcraney@cmrxray.us.com.
West Allis
What:West Allis is planningaMemorial Day observance ceremony featuringpatriotic songs sung by the Nathan Hale choir, a flag ceremony, a rifle salute, a Taps performance, a veterans tribute and speakers including West Allis Mayor Dan Devine.
When:11 a.m. May 29
Where:Veterans Park,6900 W. National Ave.
For more information and event updates:Visitwestalliswi.gov/411/community-events
West Bend
Memorial Day parade
When: 9:30 a.m. May 29. The lineup for participants is from 8:15 to 9:15 a.m.
Where: The lineup for the parade will be on South Main Street between Oak Street and Decorah Road. The parade will begin in front of Badger Middle School, 727 S. 6th Ave., going north on Main Street, left on Walnut to 6th Street, left on 6th to Chestnut, and ending at the Washington County Courthouse.
For more information: Call 414-581-4381
Harley-Davidson Memorial Day cookout
What: The West Bend Chapter of Harley-Davidson is having a cookout open to the public. If you have a military card, you get 15% off licensed apparel or performance parts. One free brat a person.
When: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. (or while supplies last) on May 27
For more information: Visit https://www.westbendhd.com.
Whitefish Bay
What:TheMemorial Day ceremony is for veterans to connect with one another and for the community to honor the country's fallen service members. This event is also slated to give Whitefish Bay families a way to teach children the meaning behind Memorial Day and to witness traditional military customs.
When:11 a.m. May 29
Where:Armory Park, atHenry Clay Street and Ardmore Avenue at the original site of Whitefish Bay National Guard Armory.
For more information:Visit www.wfbcivicfoundation.orgIf there are any events we missed, contact Cathy Kozlowicz at 262-361-9132 orcathy.kozlowicz@jrn.com.
