The Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony enjoyed a little better weather this year. Last year, a brief rainstorm during the parade forced the ceremony into the old Gays Mills Community Building.

This year, the ceremony returned to the Gays Mills Cemetery.

The North Crawford High School Band, under the direction of Holly Jones, performed well both in the parade  and at the ceremony.

The speaker for the ceremony was Wisconsin State Representative Lee Nerison presented the Memorial Day Address as he had last year.

Nerison began by noting this was the 150-year anniversary of Memorial Days intended to remember the country’s fallen heroes.

The state representative explained that Memorial Day was a time to honor the heroic patriots who made the ultimate sacrifice protecting a home to which they would never return.”

Nerison also noted that the true meaning of Memorial Day was largely ignored by mainstream America who view it as another day off of work. He emphasized that it was important that the “youth of tomorrow understand the true cost of freedom.”

“As we honor those that gave the ultimate sacrifice in the past, we should also pray for the safe return of those who face danger today,” Nerison said in conclusion.

Members of the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary laid wreaths on the War Memorial in the Gays Mills Cemetery.

Pastor Alan McCormick offered an invocation and benediction. Three volleys of fire from the American Legion firing squad offered a salute to the departed and were followed by the playing of taps by a member of the North Crawford High School Band.

The color guard and firing squad included members of McCormick-Rose American Legion Post in Gays Mills and the William Schoville Post in Soldiers Grove.