Memorial Day Ceremony

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Memorial Day

Memorial Day in the Madison area offers both formal ceremonies and peace-centered reflection. The Madison Veterans Council and partners observance at the Capitol (West Washington Avenue side) begins with the VFW Post 1318 Band at 9:15 a.m., followed by a 10 a.m. ceremony. VFW Post 7591 hosts ceremonies at 8 a.m. at Forest Hill Cemetery and 9:30 a.m. at Monona Grove High School, followed by the Monona Memorial Day parade along Monona Drive; Post 7591 also marks the day at 11:15 a.m., Blooming Grove Cemetery; noon, Roselawn Cemetery, Monona; 1 p.m., Highland Memorial Gardens, Cottage Grove; 2 p.m., Madison Veterans Memorial Park; and 3 p.m., at Post 7591. American Legion Post #245 in Cross Plains hosts a parade starting at 11 a.m. on Park Street, ending at the Post for a memorial program at 11:45 a.m., chicken barbecue, music and kids' activities. Fitchburg’s observance begins at 12:15 p.m. at Gorman Wayside Veterans Memorial Park, while American Legion Post 151’s Avenue of Flags ceremony follows at 2 p.m. at Sunset Memory Gardens. And Veterans for Peace-Clarence Kailin Chapter 25 hosts its annual Memorial Day Peace Rally at the Wisconsin Masonic Center with community tabling at noon and the program at 1 p.m. featuring a keynote by Susan Schnall, national VFP Board president, and music by Old Cool.

media release: The Madison Veterans Council is pleased to announce that, after six years, its Annual Memorial Day Ceremony will return to the Wisconsin State Capitol on Monday, May 25, 2026.

The ceremony will honor those who died while serving in the U.S. military, as well as this year’s Honor Roll of 256 Madison and Dane County veterans who have passed away since last Memorial Day.

The VFW Post 1318 Band will begin a concert prelude at 9:15 a.m. near the West Washington Avenue side of the Capitol, and the formal ceremony will begin at 10:00 a.m.

The Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War will also hold an 8:00 a.m. ceremony at Union Rest in Madison’s Forest Hill Cemetery, located at 1 Speedway Road, Madison, Wisconsin.

The Forest Hill ceremony will be brief so attendees will have ample time to travel to the State Capitol for the start of the band concert.

The public is invited to attend both ceremonies.