Memorial Day activities scheduled to take place in area communities
Veterans Photo Wall at Allamakee County Veterans Museum continues to grow ... The photo wall at the Allamakee County Veterans Museum located at 105 Allamakee Street in Waukon continues to grow since its inception earlier this year. The photo wall includes photographs of all Allamakee County Veterans of service in all branches of the United States Armed Forces from all eras and is separate from the museum’s Wall of Honor featuring those killed in action and prisoners of war. The newest photo wall now contains 144 Allamakee County Veterans (pictured in the submitted photo above), and the museum continues to welcome any submitted additions to the wall. Each picture will be enclosed in a 5”x7” frame including the name, branch, rank, date of service, etc. for the Veteran. Pictures should show dress or duty uniform whenever possible. Veterans or their families wanting a picture included are asked to bring the museum a photograph plus relevant information to be added to the photo. Any size photo is acceptable and will be copied to the appropriate size and returned to the Veteran or family. During the Memorial Day weekend, the Allamakee County Veterans Museum will be open Friday, May 22 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturday, May 23 from 9 a.m.-12 noon, and Memorial Day, Monday, May 25, from 12 noon-4 p.m.
A variety of Memorial Day activities are being planned for the upcoming holiday weekend, including all the traditional Memorial Day observances this year scheduled for Monday, May 25 in area communities within Allamakee County. Those traditions of parades, full cemetery programs and wreath laying are being planned in honor of those who made the ultimate sacrifice in serving their country, with details of some of those celebrations being outlined on this page in their respective frames.
WAUKON DETAILS
The 2026 Memorial Day Observance Program in Waukon is once again being planned to take place at its traditional setting at Oakland Cemetery in Waukon. That program is scheduled to commence at approximately 10 a.m. following the traditional parade that lines up at 9 a.m. and begins at 9:45 a.m. in front of the Allamakee County Courthouse and marches its way to the cemetery. In the event of rain, the parade will not be held and the Observance Program will, instead, be held inside the Allamakee County Fairgrounds Pavilion at approximately 10 a.m.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Volunteers will be needed to help set up the Avenue of Flags Saturday, May 23, beginning at 8 a.m. Those efforts will begin at the Allamakee County Courthouse in Waukon. Any changes in plans regarding the parade, observance ceremony or Avenue of Flags will be announced on local radio stations.
Anyone seeking more information on the Memorial Day Observance Program in Waukon should contact Heather Homewood at the Allamakee County Veterans Services Office at 563-568-6135.
GRAND MARSHAL
Serving as the Grand Marshal for this year’s Memorial Day Parade in Waukon will be John Troendle, Commander of American Legion Post 62 in Waukon. Troendle was born December 3, 1939, the oldest of 12 children born to Joe and Alberta Troendle of Lansing.
He attended one-room country schools up to the eighth grade before attending and graduating from Immaculate Conception High School in Lansing in 1957. Troendle began his service in the United States Army in December 1959, serving on bases at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri, Fort Sill in Oklahoma and Fort Richardson in Alaska.
His main duty during his service was driving for U.S. Army Generals and other dignitaries, noting that the highest-ranking passenger he ever transported was the Secretary of the U.S. Army in the winter of 1961-1962 and again during the summer of 1962. He received an Honorable Discharge from Fort Lewis in Washington in September of 1962.
