ATLANTA (AP) — Americans gathered at memorials, museums and monuments and the president laid a wreath at Arlington National Cemetery to honor fallen service members on Memorial Day, as combat in Afghanistan approaches 12 years and the ranks of World War II veterans dwindle.
“Let us not forget as we gather here today that our nation is still at war,” President Barack Obama said after laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns.
“When they give their lives, they are still being laid to rest in cemeteries in quiet corners across our country, including here in Arlington,” he said. He told the stories of three soldiers who had died. Each had been devoted to their mission and were praised by others for saving lives.
Hours later, veterans from conflicts from World War II to Afghanistan and Iraq gathered in Atlanta to dedicate a new veterans’ park. Soldiers, airmen, Marines and seamen looked on as veterans and military family members sprinkled soil, sand and water from battlefields and waterways across the world.
Retired Army Lt. Col. Rick Lester called it “a reminder of our country’s timeline of freedom.” A 26-year veteran with multiple tours in Vietnam, Germany and Korea, Lester conceived the ceremony as a way to honor living veterans and those who never made it home.
The pilot recalled in detail the numbers of men lost on missions he flew in Vietnam. “All I can think about is how those were some of the greatest guys I ever met and what they would have done for this country once they got back,” he said.
The soil and sand ranged from Revolutionary battlefields like Lexington and Concord to Tikrit in Iraq. There was none from the Civil War, Lester said, because “that was a time that our country was divided.”
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DRESBACH, Minn. (AP) — Eleven people have been rescued after a houseboat tipped over on the Mississippi River near Dresbach.
The La Crosse Tribune reports (http://bit.ly/17iWczWhttp://bit.ly/17iWczW ) that six people were taken to a hospital, but all were expected to live. The other five did not need medical treatment.
Everyone on the boat has been accounted for.
Authorities say a preliminary investigation shows the boat may have lost power on Monday evening, then was swept into the rollers at Lock and Dam No. 7.
A family of four drowned in 2007 when their boat lost power in the same area.
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Information from: La Crosse Tribune, http://www.lacrossetribune.comhttp://www.lacrossetribune.com
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MILWAUKEE (AP) — A retired Air Force major has become the first woman to serve as the grand marshal of the Milwaukee Memorial Day parade.
Maj. Gwen Sheppard served nearly three decades in the military, including a tour in Iraq.
She tells WTMJ-TV (http://bit.ly/116hNqyhttp://bit.ly/116hNqy ) she was honored to represent female veterans in general — but to serve as grand marshal and represent all women in Wisconsin was double the pleasure.
Parade chairwoman Karen Armstrong says she wanted to pay special tribute to the women of the armed services. She says each veteran has sacrificed so we may enjoy freedom.
Other parade participants included Colleen Lemke, who rode in the parade to honor her son, Army Pfc. Jason Lemke. He was killed by an improvised explosive device in Iraq five years ago.
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Information from: WTMJ-TV, http://www.todaystmj4.comhttp://www.todaystmj4.com
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MADISON, Wis. (AP) — While the top earners in Madison city government include high-level managers and attorneys, records show some bus drivers, mechanics and police officers boosted their wages significantly by earning thousands of extra dollars in overtime pay.
The Wisconsin State Journal reported (http://bit.ly/113Y8nWhttp://bit.ly/113Y8nW ) the city spent $158.8 million in base pay for workers last year, down slightly from 2011. Extra pay, including overtime, sick time and vacation pay, rose for the third straight year to $15.1 million.
A total of 48 employees earned more than $25,000 in extra pay. Now-retired Assistant Fire Chief Gregg Knudtson topped that list: He received $112,845, including $82,465 in sick pay directed to health insurance coverage, and $30,310 in vacation pay.
When it comes to overtime pay alone, a total of 36 workers earned more than $15,000 above their regular wages. That includes assistant city clerk Elena Berg — who nearly doubled her salary with $43,460 in overtime. Two other assistant clerks earned more than $20,000 in overtime.
City Clerk Maribeth Witzel-Behl said her office was $100,000 over budget for overtime and $510,900 over budget overall because of unanticipated election costs — including the unsuccessful recall election of Gov. Scott Walker.
“One more person would make a world of difference,” Witzel-Behl said. “But I’m sure a lot of agencies could use one more person. There just aren’t enough resources.”
The top 25 overtime earners included 13 Metro bus drivers and mechanics.
