As the nation prepares to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence on July 4th, Appleton will already be showing its patriotic pride with several upcoming events.
Memorial Day Ceremonies
Memorial Day is a day set aside to honor and remember the military personnel who died serving our country.
The 6th Annual Moment of Remembrance Cemetery Salutes is scheduled for Sunday, May 24, 2026. The community is welcome to gather as members of local veteran service organizations assemble and perform somber salutes to veterans who paid the ultimate sacrifice and are laid to rest at two cemeteries in the City of Appleton.
The ceremony at Moses Montefiore Cemetery (899 E. Woodland Ave in Appleton) begins at noon. A 1 p.m. ceremony will follow at St. Mary Cemetery (2121 W. Prospect).
The salutes at both cemeteries will include a prayer, the laying of a memorial wreath, a rifle salute, and the playing of “Taps”. A time of fellowship will follow at the Appleton American Legion Post 38 (3220 W. College Ave).
Memorial Day Parade
The annual Appleton Memorial Day Parade and Moment of Remembrance will be held on Monday, May 25. The parade begins at 9 a.m. from the corner of College Avenue and Appleton Street. The procession heads east on College Avenue to Meade Street, north on Meade Street to Pacific Street, and east on Pacific Street, ending at the corner of Pacific Street and Owaissa Street.
The Moment of Remembrance ceremony follows at the Riverside Cemetery with keynote speaker Elizabeth Clark, an Appleton West High School senior. Other students speaking include Isaac Moscinski and Holden McVey from Appleton East, Eiad Ahmadjee from Appleton North, and Anna Buschkopf from Fox Valley Lutheran. There will be additional remarks from Appleton Mayor Jake Woodford and Chaplain Bob Johnson from American Legion Post 38.
Bagpiper Wayne M. Hietpas, MacDowell Male Chorus, and the Appleton City Band will perform patriotic music. Honor guards from various local veteran service organizations will also participate. The ceremony will end in the traditional manner with a rifle salute by members of Appleton American Legion Post 38 and Appleton VFW Post 2778. A bugler will play “Taps” to close the Moment of Remembrance.
“America would never have reached 250 years were it not for the servicemembers who gave everything,” said Corey Otis, City of Appleton Parades Committee Chairperson. “Memorial Day provides an opportunity for our community to pause, reflect, and pay tribute to those who served with courage and honor in defense of our freedoms.”
Americans began to recognize Memorial Day in 1868, and the country established it as a federal holiday in 1971. Originally known as “Decoration Day,” the holiday started with communities coming together to decorate the graves of those who died during service. One of the earliest known observances of Memorial Day was by freed African slaves following the Civil War.
Flag Day Parade
This year is the 75th Anniversary of Appleton’s Flag Day Parade, which will take place in downtown Appleton on Saturday, June 13. Appleton’s parade was first organized in 1950 by the Appleton Elks Club. It is recognized as the nation’s oldest Flag Day Parade.
The parade will step off at 2 p.m. near State Street and College Avenue, then proceed to Drew Street, where it will end. The route has been condensed for safety reasons and will duplicate the Christmas Parade route. The parade features several bands, many floats, and numerous military units from across the country. More than 50,000 people are expected to line the parade route.
Corey Otis is the Chairman of the Appleton Parade Committee. The Otis family has been heading the parade committee since 1975. Corey was preceded in this role by his father, Greg Otis, who was preceded by his father, “Bud” Otis. The mission has always been to produce first-class displays of patriotism
And more …
June 13 will be a busy day in Appleton. In addition to the Flag Day Parade, Appleton will hold its weekly Farmers Market in the morning and the annual PRIDE Festival, starting with a Promenade on College Avenue at 11:30. PRIDE festivities will continue at Jones Park until 8 p.m.
