Most every American thinks of Memorial Day as the first celebration of the summer – and Sheboygan’s plans for Monday fill the bill with a parade and brat fry downtown. At the same time, the whole point of Memorial Day is to honor the memory of those who gave the ultimate sacrifice in service to their country – and that hasn’t been forgotten.
A traditional parade kicks off the celebration at 9 a.m., progressing from Wisconsin Avenue north on 7th Street, West on Michigan, then south on 9th Street to Fountain Park where grills will already be sending Sheboygan’s fragrant, signature smoke into the sunshine. But before serving up the bratwurst, Sheboygan pays tribute to veterans and active-duty service men and women with a ceremony, music, a moment of silence and a speech from Major Nathan Blackwell, commander of the Army Recruitment Center, Milwaukee.
And on Sheboygan’s lakefront at 11:30, Sheboygan’s Hmong community, whose origins trace back to the Hill People of Laos who allied with America during the war in Southeast Asia, will gather for the 17th annual Lao, Hmong and American Veterans Memorial Celebration with cultural shows, a memorial dedication and a flyover by a T-28, the plane which Hmong pilots were trained to help fight the secret war in Laos. The featured speaker there will be Major Steve Schofield, who secretly trained Hmong medics and did search and rescue operations for downed crews in Laos.
Those looking for more information will find it on the City of Sheboygan’s website.
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