All it took for Shawano School District Superintendent Gary Cumberland to accept an invitation to speak at the Memorial Day ceremony was a discussion with his son.
Andrew Cumberland, 27, is a member of the Air National Guard and just returned from deployment in Japan.
“I am quite honored to be speaking, because I never was in the military,” Gary Cumberland said. “But now I am excited to be a part of it. I am going to speak on behalf of a parent, when your son or daughter is serving our country.”
Cumberland’s address at the ceremony in Woodlawn Cemetery will be part of the annual Memorial Day festivities planned each year in Shawano by the Allied Veterans Council, which consists of five organizations: Disabled American Veterans Chapter 22, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2723, AMVETS Post 10, Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 26 and American Legion Post 117.
The AMVETS are spearheading this year’s parade, council President Bill Rosin said, with AMVETS vice commander Ralph Schmidt serving as parade marshal.
Parade participants will gather at 8:45 a.m. at Huckleberry Harbor. The parade will step off at 9:20 a.m. and proceed down Fifth Street to Humphrey Circle, toward the Woodlawn Cemetery Avenue of Flags. Participants will include the middle and high school marching bands, Mayor Lorna Marquardt and other elected officials, Boy Scouts, emergency personnel and more.
Small U.S. flags will adorn grave sites of fallen soldiers and other military personnel.
“The Boy Scouts and the AMVETS will be out placing flags donated by Qualheim’s (True Value) on Thursday,” Rosin said.
Rosin noted local Girl Scouts and 4-H clubs will also assist the AMVETS with the 1,300-plus flags. The public is invite to help, as well.
“Anybody that wants to come and help, they are more than welcome,” Rosin said.
If the weather is bad, the program will move indoors to Shawano Community Middle School, 1050 S. Union St.
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