American Legion, Post 229 to conduct Memorial Day Ceremony on May 25

MADISON – In patriotic spirit for the commemorative day, Madison American Legion, Post 229 will conduct its traditional Memorial Day Ceremony.

The event on Memorial Day, May 25, will start at 11 a.m. at Captain Jesse Ollie Wikle Jr. Veterans Memorial Park on Front Street’s east end in downtown Madison. The program will include musical tributes by Madison Community Band and remarks by local and national leaders, along with traditional laying of wreaths at the memorial.

The featured speaker at Post 229’s ceremony will be Brigadier General Allen J. Pepper, U.S. Army. A 1993 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Brig. Gen. Pepper currently commands the U.S. Army Security Assistance Command or USASAC.

Under his leadership, the command manages security assistance programs and Foreign Military Sales cases that build partner capacity, support Combatant Command engagement strategies and strengthen global partnerships. He oversees a foreign military sales portfolio valued at approximately $281 billion spanning more than 136 nations and 11 agencies.

Residents are encouraged to attend the ceremony to honor Gold Star families and fallen service members, to participate in remembrance traditions and to reflect on the freedoms protected by those who gave their lives in service to the nation. A Gold Star family is one who has lost one or more close relatives who were in the U.S. Armed Forces.

“As Americans enter the month of May, communities prepare to observe one of the nation’s most solemn holidays: Memorial Day,” Steve Leahy said. Leahy is Vice Commander of American Legion, Post 229.

“While many use the long weekend to kick off summer with barbecues and outdoor activities, Memorial Day remains a time to honor the men and women who died in service of the United States Armed Forces,” Leahy said.

“You will see members of Post 229 and Auxiliary Unit 229 at local stores handing out Memorial Day poppies in the week leading up to Memorial Day,” retired U.S. Air Force Colonel Larry Vannoy said. Vannoy is commander of American Legion, Post 229 Commander.

“The poppy is our country’s national symbol of remembrance. We hand out poppies not only as a symbol of remembrance but also to educate our community, especially our youth, about the meaning and purpose of Memorial Day,” Vannoy said. “So many Americans don’t know the difference between Veterans Day and Memorial Day and having our members out in the community is a way to educate our citizens.”

In the days leading up to the ceremony, Post 229 members and Auxiliary Unit 229 will distribute poppies and share information about the meaning of Memorial Day with residents across the community.

The tradition of decorating soldiers’ graves began after the Civil War; in 1868, Union General John A. Logan proclaimed May 30 as a day to decorate soldiers’ graves with flowers, a custom that evolved into the Memorial Day observed today.

The laying of wreaths remains a central element of remembrance services, underscoring both the commemorative purpose of war memorials and their role in community mourning. “This year’s observance is imbued with added significance as the nation also marks its 250th anniversary, reflecting on the Armed Forces’ legacies of perseverance and sacrifice,” Vannoy said. “From historic battlefields to contemporary operations, service members have upheld the values of duty, honor and country — and many families continue to bear the costs of those sacrifices.”

Officers of American Legion Post 229 are Commander Larry Vannoy, Vice Commander Steve Leahy and Executive Committeeperson Brady Rogers. For more information, visit www.americanlegionpost229.org.