APPLETON (NBC 26) — The Appleton Parade Committee announced their online program schedule for the city's 2020 Memorial Day Ceremony.
Everyone is invited to watch Appleton's first-ever virtual Moment of Remembrance streaming May 25 at 10:15 A.M. The Committee says this is a new way to pay tribute to those who died protecting our rights and freedoms.
According to committee members, the virtual parade will feature a combination of live and recorded elements. These include poignant speeches and poems delivered by Appleton high school students, remarks from Appleton Mayor Jake Woodford, and patriotic music performed lived by bagpiper Mike Dickinson and the Mid Life Crisis Quartet.
"The ceremony will end in the traditional manner," the Committee added. "A rifle salute to our fallen servicemen and women will be performed by the Appleton American Legion Post 38 honor guard, who will be accompanied by the Appleton VFW Post 2778 color guard. A bugler will play 'Taps' to close the Moment of Remembrance."
The Appleton Parade Committee mentions other features of the online ceremony, including the Patriot Guard Riders displaying American flags and Lamers Bus Lines providing a patriotically wrapped coach bus.
The Committee previously announced several city parades would be moving online on April 27, including the Memorial Day Ceremony. They explained their decision was to protect the health and safety of participants, spectators, and volunteers during the COVID-19 pandemic this year.
Appleton Parade Committee members say they are grateful for the pride, passion, and patriotism spectators bring to the community's events.
"You make our parades great!" writes the Committee. "We deeply appreciate all of the time and effort and creativity participants put into their parade floats, performaces, and presentation. We see 2020 as a temporary break, one from which Appleton's parades will bounce back stronger and better than ever."
You can follow the Appleton Memorial Day Parade on Facebook for news and updates on this year's Moment of Remembrance as well as upcoming announcements for this year's Flag Day community celebration.
