Wisconsinites take part in Memorial Day festivities

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Thousands of Wisconsinites took time out yesterday to remember the nation’s fallen military heroes.

At Wood National Cemetery in Milwaukee, reenactors from various wars told personal stories of some of the 37,000-plus veterans buried there. Governor Scott Walker received a warm welcome when he spoke at the Milwaukee ceremony – and he stayed for over a half-hour afterward to shake people’s hands and pose for pictures. Later, at Madison’s Armed Forces Reserve Center, the governor paid tribute to Wisconsin military personnel killed over the last year – as well as the 33,000 state residents now serving. Walker’s opponent in next Tuesday’s recall election, Tom Barrett, marched in the Memorial Day Parade in Beloit. That’s where his wife Kris is from.

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Recall fever never seems to take a holiday in Wisconsin anymore. In Milwaukee, hundreds of people spent part of their Memorial Day waiting in line to cast absentee ballots in advance of next Tuesday's recall elections. Some voters said they wanted to avoid the crowds and the partisan activity near the polls. Others said they wanted to get their own voting out of the way, so they could help others get to the polls. There are relatively few undecided voters, so both parties say this election's about identifying their supporters and getting them to vote next Tuesday. The AP said it interviewed supporters for both Governor Scott Walker and his Democratic recall challenger Tom Barrett. Early voting took place yesterday in Madison as well as Milwaukee. It ends on Friday statewide. Meanwhile, both candidates for governor kept their campaigning to a minimum on Memorial Day. Barrett also stopped at Madison's Brat Fest.

Tags: news, wisconsin