The annual Memorial Day Ceremony was held at Riverside Cemetery on May 26. It began with Vets Club Commander Denny Henke welcoming those in attendance. He said the average age of someone going into the military is 19. They have seen suffering and death and ask for nothing but friendship and understanding. He said that those that have gone before rest in peace. Chaplain Larry Herington said a prayer. Henke thanked the Scouts for placing the flags on the graves.
Mason Gay was the 2025 Vets Club Scholarship winner. His essay was on the Significance of The Highground. His essay was as follows:
“The Highground Veterans Memorial Park in Neillsville, Wisconsin, is more than just a tribute to those who have served. It is a place of reflection, gratitude, and remembrance. For me, the Highground holds a special meaning. I first visited the memorial on a 4th-grade field trip, walking through its quiet paths, staring up at the powerful statues, and listening as our guide told stories of sacrifice. At the time, I didn’t fully understand the weight of what I was experiencing, but I knew it was important. Even as a young student, I could feel the honor, respect, and sorrow that filled the air.
“Growing up in Owen-Withee, a small town where community and service go hand in hand, I have always been taught to respect and honor our veterans. The Highground stands as a reminder of the sacrifices made by those who have fought for our freedoms, and I believe it is our responsibility to never forget them. The men and women who serve in the military give up so much, their time, their families, and sometimes even their lives, so that we can enjoy the freedoms we often take for granted.
“One of the most moving parts of the Highground is the "Sacred Stone," which represents the heavy burden carried by soldiers, not just during war but long after they return home. Seeing it as a child, I remember feeling a sense of sadness but also deep admiration. Veterans don’t always come home the same way they left, and many of them live with wounds, both seen and unseen. The Highground gives these veterans a place of peace and healing, somewhere they are truly understood and appreciated.
“I also remember walking through the Gold Star Tribute, where the families of fallen soldiers are honored. Even then, I understood that war doesn’t just affect those who fight, it affects their parents, spouses, and children. These families carry their grief for a lifetime, and it is important that they, too, are recognized and supported.
“Another reason why the Highground is so significant is that it serves as an educational space for people of all ages. Visiting as a young student gave me an appreciation for our country and the people who defend it. Many schools, including mine, take field trips there, ensuring that the next generation will understand the cost of freedom. Events like Veterans Reunions, Memorial Walks, and Flag Retirement Ceremonies give the community a way to come together and show gratitude.
“As I have grown older, I have gained an even greater appreciation for our veterans and the deep sacrifices they have made. While I may not serve in the military myself, I believe honoring and supporting those who do is a duty we all share. Whether it’s through thanking a veteran, supporting veteran-owned businesses, or simply taking time to remember, every action matters.
“The Highground is not just a memorial. It is a place of love, loss, and lasting respect. My visit there as a child left an impression that has only grown stronger with time. It is a place where veterans can find peace, where families can grieve and heal, and where the rest of us can learn and remember. In a world that moves so quickly, the Highground reminds us to pause and honor those who have given so much for us. It stands as a permanent reminder that freedom is never free, and that we must never forget those who paid the price for it.”
After Mason’s essay, the band played a selection. Then the 2024 Badger State delegates each stepped up to the podium and gave a speech, beginning with Mason Gay.
Mason said, “Thank you for being here today. Memorial Day is a time when we come together to honor the men and women who gave their lives while serving in the United States military. Today, I would like to share something that connects this special day to a significant milestone in our country’s history.
“In 2026, our nation will celebrate its 250th birthday. That’s a huge moment, not just for our country, but also for the three branches of our military. The U.S. Army was founded on June 14, 1775. The Navy followed in October, and the Marine Corps in November of that same year. That means all three will also turn 250 years old.
“For 250 years, every day Americans, people like you and me, have stepped up to serve and protect our country. They left behind families, hometowns, and personal dreams because they believed in something bigger than themselves: freedom, responsibility, and the hope for a better future.
“Memorial Day reminds us that some of them never came home.
“Even the soldiers and sailors from the 1700s, those who fought in the Revolutionary War, deserve to be remembered. Without their sacrifices, the United States might not even exist today. And since then, generation after generation has followed their example, answering the call to defend this country.
“So as we remember our fallen heroes today, let’s take a moment to look back 250 years and recognize the legacy they began. And let’s also think about how we can carry it forward, with gratitude, with respect, and with the kind of character that honors their sacrifice.
“Thank you, and may we never forget the price of our freedom.”
Mathew Wilson spoke next. He said, “Thank you all for being here today: veterans, families, neighbors, and friends. On this Memorial Day, we come together not just as a community, but as a family united by memory, by honor, and by the shared understanding that freedom is never free.
“We live in a world shaped by the courage of those who came before us—men and women who answered the call to serve, knowing full well the risks. Some came home. Some did not. Today, we remember those who didn’t—those whose journeys ended in sacrifice, whose legacies live on in each of us.
“There’s a place many of you may have heard of, but few have seen: Dover Air Force Base, and more specifically, the Charles C. Carson Center for Mortuary Affairs. It’s not just a building. It is sacred ground.
“Every American service member who falls in battle returns home through Dover. It is the first stop on their final journey. And what happens there is nothing short of extraordinary. The professionals at Dover handle each fallen hero with the deepest care and reverence. Their work is quiet, humble, and sacred. Every uniform is pressed. Every ribbon is placed. Every detail is perfect because our heroes deserve nothing less.
“To the families of the fallen, this care means everything. Dover ensures that their loved ones return not just with honor, but with the love of a grateful nation. It is where silence speaks louder than words, and where respect is shown not in speeches, but in the way every hand moves with purpose and grace.
“To the veterans here with us, you carry these memories. You’ve seen what service means. You’ve lost friends. You’ve watched flags fold. And today, your presence reminds us that remembrance isn’t a one-day act. It’s a lifelong commitment.
“To our neighbors—the parents, students, workers, and young people of this community—remember that these freedoms we enjoy didn’t come easily. They were paid for in sweat, in sacrifice, and in lives. Let today be more than a ceremony. Let it be a promise: to live in a way that honors their memory, to support the families left behind, and to keep telling their stories.
“So we remember. We reflect. And we give thanks.
“To the fallen, we will never forget you.
“To the families, we stand with you.
“To our veterans, we thank you.
“And to this community, let us carry their memory forward, together.
“God bless you all.”
Cassidy Graski was the next speaker. She said, “Last summer, as a junior, I had the privilege of attending Badger Girls State at UW-Oshkosh. There, I had the opportunity to learn about the principles of democracy and how the government touches every one of our lives in different ways. It was such an honor to be able to attend Badger State and I will be forever grateful for both the knowledge I gained there, and the friends and memories that will forever stick with me.
“Today, as we gather to honor the memory of our nation’s fallen heroes, we are reminded that Memorial Day is more than a date on the calendar—it is a solemn promise. A promise to remember. A promise to reflect. And a promise to honor those who gave their lives in service to our country.
“One of the most touching moments of any Memorial Day ceremony is the playing of “Taps.” That familiar, mournful melody—just 24 notes long—has become one of the most sacred sounds in American military tradition. It’s a simple tune, but it carries the weight of generations of sacrifice.
“The origins of “Taps” go back to the summer of 1862, during the Civil War. Union General Daniel Butterfield, along with his bugler, Oliver Willcox Norton, composed it to replace the standard call for "lights out." But almost immediately, it became something more. Its haunting beauty touched soldiers’ hearts, and before long, “Taps” was being played not only at nightfall, but also at battlefield funerals, offering a final farewell when words failed.
“Since that time, “Taps” has become inseparable from military memorials and funerals. It is played not just as a signal of the end of the day, but as a tribute to lives that have ended in duty, honor, and courage. On Memorial Day, it serves as a national moment of reflection—an audible symbol of our collective grief, our respect, and our gratitude.
“There is no verse, no spoken line, that captures the silence left by a fallen soldier better than those 24 notes. They do not speak, yet they say everything. They remind us that freedom is not free—that it is paid for in lives given on distant shores, in quiet sacrifice, and in bravery beyond measure.
“As we listen to “Taps” today, let us pause and truly hear it. Let it echo not only across this ceremony but in our hearts. Let it remind us of the debt we owe to the men and women who will never again march in our parades, never again return to their homes, and never again hear the cheers of a grateful nation—yet whose legacy lives on through our remembrance.
“May we carry their memory with us, not just today, but every day. And may the sound of “Taps” continue to call us—always—to remember.”
Angela Baures spoke next. Her speech was not available for print, but she spoke about how Badger Girls State gave her a perspective on government and life. She spoke about the Highground being more than a park, it is a living tribute that embraces all eras. It is a place of healing and remembrance. She said, “The responsibility to remember the fallen is on us.”
The final speaker was Geneva Capetillo. She said, “I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to all the veterans who are here today, as it’s so important that we take the time to recognize and appreciate the sacrifices you’ve made for our freedom. Thank you for your service. Good morning everyone, and thank you for joining us today as we honor the lives, the legacies, and the sacrifices of the brave men and women who gave everything for our country. My name is Geneva Capetillo, and I was honored to attend Badger Girls State this past year. Along with a few others who were sponsored to go, I gained a deeper understanding of Americanism, civic responsibility, and the many voices, past and present, that uphold the values of our nation.
“Today, I want to recognize a lesser-known group of American heroes: the “Hello Girls.” These 223 courageous women served as switchboard operators for the U.S. Army Signal Corps during World War I. Fluent in both English and French, they worked tirelessly near the front lines to connect urgent military calls between American and French units. The efficiency and accuracy of their communication saved countless lives and helped bring order to the chaos of war. Despite wearing Army uniforms and operating under military command, these women were not recognized as veterans when they returned home. It wasn’t until 1977, almost 60 years later, that they were finally granted veteran status and honored for their service. Their delayed recognition reminds us that freedom is not only defended on the battlefield but also in the stories we choose to remember and share.
“This Memorial Day, as we look around this cemetery and reflect on the many who rest here, let us carry their stories with the same strength and dignity they showed in life. Whether they held a rifle or a telephone line, flew a fighter jet or ran a hospital tent, each one gave something of themselves to defend the American spirit. We remember not just the soldiers, but the signalers. Not just the famous, but the forgotten. Today is about all of them. Let us speak their names. Let us honor their silence. And above all, let us never forget that liberty is kept alive by those willing to serve it—sometimes in ways history almost forgets. May God bless all those who served, all those we’ve lost, and the nation they gave everything to protect.”
The band played the National Anthem. Chaplain Larry Herington said a prayer and then read the Memorial Day Prayer. He then placed a poppy wreath on the grave of one of the fallen. The ceremony ended with a gun salute to the fallen and the playing of Taps.