Beaver Dam Memorial Day Ceremony

5/30/17 – Hundreds of Wisconsin communities held Memorial Day ceremonies yesterday, to remember fallen military troops. In Beaver Dam, there were several hundred spectators at the Veterans Memorial at Oakwood Cemetery. Combined with the representatives of the various branches of the military, the Beaver Dam High School Band, St Katherine Drexel Band and others presenting during the ceremony, there were well over 300 people on the grounds. The guest speaker was Master Sergeant Alex Kaye of Watertown, who has served 13 years and is currently the Senior Operations Noncommissioned Officer in Charge, Third Battalion, 95th Training Division. Kaye says Memorial Day is a time to stop and reflect on those who have given the ultimate price for freedom. He says it is important to remember that today’s military is comprised of volunteers and the men and women who serve are there because they value the freedoms many of us take for granted. It is forgotten, Kaye says, that there are people who would seize the opportunity to deprive us of this freedom if it were not for the strength and dedication of our military. He encouraged the public to take five minutes to research a fallen soldier from their local community or donate to the USO or another veterans organization. Yesterday’s ceremony in Beaver Dam, the first in recent history that was not preceded by a parade, also included a military flyover.