Decoration Day
Sunday, May 25, 2008 10 am-5 pm
In an event that will recall the origins of today's Memorial Day holiday, Old World Wisconsin will roll back the clock to observe that holiday's predecessor, Decoration Day. Originally conceived as an occasion to honor Civil War dead by decorating their graves, the inaugural Decoration Day was celebrated on May 30, 1868. It wasn't until 1882 that the name and the nature of the holiday changed. That's when Decoration Day evolved into Memorial Day, an occasion to memorialize soldiers who had died in all American military conflicts. The event will feature a spectrum of holiday activities that date before and after the change in the holiday's name and its purpose. Free admission for veterans with proof of service.
Some featured activities:
- Join in a solemn procession to the Pleasant Ridge Cemetery for a circa 1916 ceremony filled with patriotic music, eloquent speeches, beautiful recitations, and the emotionally charged grave decoration ceremony, replete with rifle salutes and the playing of taps.
- At the cemetery, help the ladies of the Women's Relief Corps make flower arrangements and wreaths to place upon soldiers' graves.
- Discover the fascinating history of the Grand Army of the Republic and the important role it played in establishing Memorial Day.
- Inspect the military equipment of the 1st Wisconsin Sanitary Train — an ambulance company — and observe the equipment and surgical techniques employed by Army medical units in World War I.
- Enjoy a special Memorial Day program presented by the legendary 1st Brigade Band.
Ticket Info:
Adults $16; children (5-17) $9 (children under 5 are free); students and senior citizens (65 and over) $14; family (two adults and two or more dependent children 5-17) $43. Fees include an all-day tram transportation pass.
Location Info:
Venue: Old World Wisconsin
Old World Wisconsin documents the settlement of 19th- and early 20th-century Wisconsin. It comprises an 1870s crossroads village and 10 ethnic farmsteads located on 576 acres of wooded hills in the Southern Unit of Kettle Moraine State Forest.
S103 W37890 Hwy 67
Eagle, WI
Contact Info:
E-mail: oww@wisconsinhistory.org
Phone: 262-594-6300
Fax: 262-594-6342