Colonel Mark Anderson

Honorary Parade Marshal for the 57th Annual Appleton Flag Day Parade, Col. Anderson is commander of the 32nd Infantry Brigade, the largest unit in the Wisconsin Army National Guard.

Col. Mark E. Anderson commands the 32nd Separate Infantry Brigade - a light infantry unit with approximately 3,600 soldiers, the largest major command of the Wisconsin Army National Guard.

Col. Anderson's military awards include the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, the Army Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters, the Army Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster, the Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal with one silver and one bronze oak leaf cluster, the National Defense Service Medal with bronze service star, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Joint Meritorious Unit Award and the Armed Forces Reserve Medal with Hourglass and "M" devices, as well as other federal and state awards. Col. Anderson has also been awarded the Combat Action Badge and is a recipient of the Military Orders of Saint Barbara (Artillery) and Saint Maurice - Centurion (Infantry).

The 32nd Infantry Brigade was formed in 1967 from the deactivated 32nd Infantry Division (a.k.a. the Red Arrow Brigade). It is made up of three battalions of light infantry as well as support and engineer units.
 

Staff Sergeant Kenneth E. Stumpf receiving the Medal of Honor from President Lyndon Baines Johnson, 19 September 1968.

Ken Stumpf

As a squad leader on a search and destroy mission in the heat of Vietnam in April of 1967, SP/4 Ken Stumpf braved enemy troops and certain death to rescue not one, but three men in his squad wounded by hostile gunfire. Each time Stumpf left his secure position and ran through a barrage of incoming rounds to reach his wounded comrades. On each occasion he would carry the wounded soldier back to safety. Stumpf then led a successful assault against the enemy bunkers. As a result he received the Medal of Honor. (More information on Ken Stumpf and the medal here)

The Medal of Honor is the highest award for valor in action against an enemy force which can be bestowed upon an individual serving in the Armed Services of the United States. Generally presented to its recipient by the President of the United States of America in the name of Congress, it is often called the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Ken Stumpf, a Menasha resident, is on the Board of Directors for the Medal of Honor Society and has been a key player as the Medal of Honor Society Liaison for the 2007 Congressional Medal of Honor Convention. He is also on the Board of Advisors for the Brian LaViolette Scholarship Foundation and is very active with its Scholarship of Honor Program.
 

Circus World Museum, Baraboo, WI

Three horse-drawn, antique wagons from the museum will join the 2007 Appleton Flag Day Parade. The vintage wagons are being sponsored by Johnson Bank in Appleton.
 

132d Army Band

The 132d Army Band was constituted in the Wisconsin Army National Guard in 1946 as the 32d Infantry Division Band. Organized and Federally recognized on May 10, 1948 in Madison, Wisconsin.

On October 15, 1961 the Band was inducted into federal service at Madison and was assigned to Fort Lewis, Washington. On August 10th, 1963 the Band returned from Fort Lewis, WA and was released from Federal Service.

The Band underwent reorganization and re-designation on April 1, 1963 as a portion of Headquarters and Headquarters and Band 32d Infantry Division Support Command.

The Band underwent another reorganization on February 14, 1964 as a portion of Headquarters and Headquarters Company and Band 32d Infantry Division Support Command.

The Band was again reorganized and re-designated on December 30, 1967 as the 132d Army Band and relieved from assignment to the 32d Infantry Division.

The 132d Army Band is a reserve component unit located in Madison, Wisconsin and is comprised of 60 part-time Soldier musicians. Typically, the Band meets one weekend per month and performs a two-week concert tour around the state, or a Conductor's Art Workshop during the summer.

Members of the Band range in age from late teens to late fifties. Most of them are professional musicians or music educators, while others hold a variety of other professions. Some joined while in high school, while others are former Active Duty members of the Army, Navy, Marines, and Air Force Bands.

In addition to marching in parades and performing military ceremonies, we have many other musical ensembles that perform for all types of events and audiences, both military and civilian. These ensembles include a concert band, two jazz bands, two brass quintets, saxophone ensemble, jazz combo, woodwind quintet, and a rock band.

1st Brigade Band

In 1894 eighteen men from the Brodhead Brass Band enlisted in the Union Army as the band of the 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 15th Army Corps. They left their rural Wisconsin homes to participate, under the command of General William T. Sherman, in the campaigns of Northern Georgia and the Carolinas. The “Tradition of Excellence” that these men established more than 130 years ago lives on today with the members of Wisconsin’s 1st Brigade Band.

The band Makes History Live by presenting period brass band music, performed on antique instruments. Attired in uniforms and gowns, the Band’s musicians, color guard, and vivandiers take you back to the 1860s – to that turbulent era known as the Civil War. A nostalgic portrayal of the atmosphere of days gone by is generated by a unique form of showmanship that blends the sights and sounds of the period with historical anecdotes.

Through their work you can now hear what Presidents Lincoln and Davis, Generals Lee and Grant, and their contemporaries heard.

Navy Band Great Lakes

"Pride in Service" has been the theme since 1908 when the first bugler reported for duty to bandmaster John Philip Sousa in 1917, to today's bandmaster, Lieutenant Joseph Dolsak, our music represents the pride and professionalism synonymous with the United States Navy.
   As the Navy's "Ambassadors to the Midwest," Navy Band Great Lakes performs for hundreds of thousands of people every year in an area stretching from Ohio to North Dakota.

The Newtonburg Brass Band

...is a lighthearted recreation of an early 1900’s small town brass band. Thirteen musicians in authentic attire perform the music that was once the primary source of culture and entertainment in small town America before the days of automobiles, radios and television.

The band’s roots can be traced back to about 1904 when members of St. John’s Church of Newtonburg (southwest of Manitowoc, Wisconsin) formed a brass band to play for picnics, dances, and special occasions. Conducted by Ernst Rusch, the band operated until the first World War, disbanded, and nearly vanished into history.

The band features marches, light classics, concert band favorites, early Dixieland, and a large repertoire of American, German or Czech polka and waltz music. A popular part of their concerts is the sing-a-long songs such as “Bicycle Built For Two”, “Meet Me In St. Louis, Louie”, “The Band Play On” encourage concert attendees to carry a tune. A Dixieland procession through the crowd is a regular crowd pleaser.

The Shamrock Club Color Guard

The color guard originally started as a designated group to carry the Irish and American flags during the St. Patrick's Day Parade, in 1966 by Kit Nash.

Over the years, we have evolved to become a full-fledged Pipe and Drum unit. In 1988, we were one of the few American groups to march in the Dublin Millennium St. Patrick's Day Parade. Other parades that we have appeared in over the years include the Savannah, New Orleans, and New York City parade.

The University of Wisconsin Marching Band

Participating in the 57th Annual Appleton Flag Day, the UW Band is best known for its high-stepping style, showmanship and unique traditions. The band has become world-famous with it “On Wisconsin” finales and 5th Quarter music at Wisconsin Badger events.
   “We are honored the UW Band has accepted our invitation to march this year,” according to Greg Otis, Parade Chairman. “They are in big demand nationally, and they will bring a lot of excitement with them.” Following the parade, The UW Band will perform their famous 5th Quarter concert in City Park. 

FUN: : All parade participants, spectators, and the general public are invited to a City of Appleton 150th Birthday Celebration at City Park immediately following the Parade.

For more information visit Celebrate Appleton