Mary Perrine, Carol Schweinfurth, Kathy Rudy Herr, Kathy Carr, Deb Strecker, Camille Thibaudeau-Meyers, Chris Green, Dottie McMillian and Maureen Miller pose with copies of the resolution passed in 1919 by the Wisconsin Legislature. It was the first state legislature to pass the resolution.
WOMAN’S CLUB
Today, it’s a right all too easily taken for granted. Each year, American citizens of all genders and races are able to head to the voting polls and cast ballots for candidates in local, state and federal elections.
It is difficult to comprehend in today’s society, but up until a century ago, the right to vote in the U.S. was extended only to men.
Members of the Kenosha Woman’s Club on Monday looked back at a pivotal moment in history and the prominent part Wisconsin played in ensuring the 19th amendment would move forward.
While lawmakers in Washington, D.C., voted to add the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, at least three-fourths of the states needed to ratify, or pass, the amendment to make it official.
Wisconsin, as it so happens, was the first in the U.S. to do so, filing the passing with the federal government on June 10, 1919.
The 19th Amendment, part of the women’s suffrage movement, had been in the making several years prior, but was briefly sidelined by World War I.
“I don’t think people realize what went into it,” said Deb Strecker, president of the Kenosha Woman’s Club, which has roots as a local organization stretching back 128 years.
Strecker and other leaders within the club held an open house at their facility, 6028 Eighth Ave., on Monday, giving visitors a glimpse into the passage of the 19th Amendment and the suffrage movement.
Some of the members of the Kenosha Woman’s Club from a century ago played a role in lobbying to give women the right to vote.
“I admire them a great deal because of what they had to do,” Strecker said.
Carol Schweinfurth, a longtime member of the Kenosha Woman’s Club, was perusing old documents — some of them written around the time of the suffrage movement — at Monday’s open house.
“It was incredible what they achieved in life,” Schweinfurth said of her predecessors.
Pausing to remember the passage of the 19th Amendment is important, said Kathy Herr, who serves as club treasurer.
“I think you have to know where you came from to know where you are today,” Herr said. “You can’t take it for granted.”
Herr said Monday’s open house is one of several events in the works to commemorate the passage of the 19th Amendment.
The Kenosha Woman’s Club, which currently has close to 50 members, is involved in a number of other projects, including its “Blue Ribbon” campaign for police officers and Quilts of Valor, which are presented to local veterans.
“We have our fingers in a lot of different things,” Schweinfurth said.
WEST END MEMORIAL DAY

Members of the Silver Lake American Legion and VFW Posts give a gun salute at the Memorial Day service at the Schultz-Hahn American Legion Post 293 in Silver Lake.
WEST END MEMORIAL DAY

Fran Carr and husband Bill Carr, an 86-year-old Korean War veteran, watch the flag and colors pass during Monday’s Memorial Day parade in Twin Lakes.
MEMORIAL DAY EVENTS KAVV LIBRARY PARK

Jim Holter, far left, and other members of the Kenosha Area Vietnam Veterans Honor Guard fire a salute during the Kenosha Area Vietnam Veterans service honoring POW/MIAs at Library Park on Monday.
MEMORIAL DAY EVENTS KAVV LIBRARY PARK

Kenosha Area Vietnam Veterans service honoring POW/MIAs at Library Park on Monday, May 27, 2019.
MEMORIAL DAY EVENTS VFW 1865 FLAG RETIREMENT

Bennet Clinkingbeard, second from left, Cub Scout Pack 570, holds the Navy flag before the start of the Kenosha VFW Junker-Ball Post 1865 flag retirement ceremony on Monday.
MEMORIAL DAY EVENTS VFW 1865 FLAG RETIREMENT
MEMORIAL DAY EVENTS VFW 1865 FLAG RETIREMENT

Roy Beals, Sr., second from right, past commander of Kenosha VFW Junker-Ball Post 1865, places a flag for burning during a flag retirement ceremony on Monday, May 27, 2019. Beals was honored with a plaque unveiling for his service to the Post. Manny Salas, third from left, and Dewey Linhart, right, salute.
MEMORIAL DAY EVENTS VFW 1865 FLAG RETIREMENT

Manny Salas, second from left, salutes as Roy Beals, Sr., right, past commander of Kenosha VFW Junker-Ball Post 1865, places a flag for burning during a flag retirement ceremony on Monday, May 27, 2019. Beals was honored with a plaque unveiling for his service to the Post.
MEMORIAL DAY EVENTS VFW 1865 FLAG RETIREMENT

Roy Beals, Sr., past commander of Kenosha VFW Junker-Ball Post 1865, places a flag for burning during a flag retirement ceremony on Monday, May 27, 2019. Beals was honored with a plaque unveiling for his service to the Post.
MEMORIAL DAY EVENTS NAVY CLUB SHIP 40

Jim Zeszutek, right, commander of Navy Club Ship 40, salutes during a service at Navy Park on Monday, May 27, 2019. The Kenosha Police honor guard is behind him.
MEMORIAL DAY EVENTS NAVY CLUB SHIP 40

A memorial wreath is cast into the harbor. Navy Club Ship 40 service at Navy Park on Monday, May 27, 2019.
MEMORIAL DAY EVENTS NAVY CLUB SHIP 40

Bob Brown, left, a Marine Corps veteran and Navy Club Ship 40 chaplain, salutes the flag during a Ship 40 service at Navy Park on Monday. See more Memorial Day photos on pages A5 and A6.
MEMORIAL DAY EVENTS NAVY CLUB SHIP 40

Kenosha Police honor guard fires a salute during the Navy Club Ship 40 service at Navy Park on Monday, May 27, 2019.
MEMORIAL DAY EVENTS NAVY CLUB SHIP 40

Honoring our veterans
Above, Don Burns rings the bell during the Navy Club Ship 40 service at Navy Park on Monday. In the photo at left, veterans Phil Morris, left, and Jon Sutter carry the colors into the American Legion Paul Herrick Post 21 service at Green Ridge Cemetery on Monday.
MEMORIAL DAY EVENTS NAVY CLUB SHIP 40

A memorial wreath is cast into the harbor. Navy Club Ship 40 service at Navy Park on Monday, May 27, 2019.
MEMORIAL DAY EVENTS NAVY CLUB SHIP 40

Jack Rose throws a flower into the harbor after the Navy Club Ship 40 service at Navy Park on Monday, May 27, 2019.
MEMORIAL DAY EVENTS AMERICAN LEGION POST 21

Sue Green hugs Larry Olle, a member of the Kenosha Area Vietnam Veterans honor guard before the American Legion Paul Herrick Post 21 service at Green Ridge Cemetery Monday, May 27, 2019.
MEMORIAL DAY EVENTS AMERICAN LEGION POST 21

Hailey Reynolds holds a flag during the American Legion Paul Herrick Post 21 service at Green Ridge Cemetery Monday, May 27, 2019.
MEMORIAL DAY EVENTS AMERICAN LEGION POST 21

Veterans Phil Morris, left, and Jon Sutter carry the colors into the American Legion Paul Herrick Post 21 service at Green Ridge Cemetery Monday, May 27, 2019.
MEMORIAL DAY EVENTS AMERICAN LEGION POST 21
MEMORIAL DAY EVENTS AMERICAN LEGION POST 21

Terry Litz, left, a U.S. Army veteran salutes with Linda Jordan during the American Legion Paul Herrick Post 21 service at Green Ridge Cemetery Monday, May 27, 2019.
MEMORIAL DAY EVENTS AMERICAN LEGION POST 21

Al Vittori, right, salutes during the American Legion Paul Herrick Post 21 service at Green Ridge Cemetery Monday, May 27, 2019.
MEMORIAL DAY EVENTS PLEASANT PRAIRIE VFW 7308

Jared Ziegelbauer, second from left, leads a honor guard of Boy Scouts from Troop 522 during the Pleasant Prairie VFW 7308 service at Old St. Mark’s Cemetery on Monday, May 27, 2019.
MEMORIAL DAY EVENTS PLEASANT PRAIRIE VFW 7308

Jared Ziegelbauer, right, leads a honor guard of Boy Scouts from Troop 522 during the Pleasant Prairie VFW 7308 service at Old St. Mark’s Cemetery on Monday, May 27, 2019.
MEMORIAL DAY EVENTS PLEASANT PRAIRIE VFW 7308

Kenosha Police honor guard fires a salute during the Pleasant Prairie VFW 7308 service at Old St. Mark’s Cemetery on Monday, May 27, 2019.
MEMORIAL DAY EVENTS PLEASANT PRAIRIE VFW 7308

Rick Janus, said he honors the memory of his father, a Vietnam Air Force veteran, as he plays taps during the Pleasant Prairie VFW 7308 service at Old St. Mark’s Cemetery on Monday, May 27, 2019.
MEMORIAL DAY EVENTS KAVV LIBRARY PARK

Jacob Reynolds, left, Brooklyn Reyolds and Hailey Reyolds joined their aunt Cherie Bowker, fourth from left, for the Kenosha Area Vietnam Veterans service honoring POW/MIAs at Library Park on Monday, May 27, 2019.
MemDay 5

Vietnam veterans create the Battlefield Cross during a Memorial Day ceremony Sunday at the Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery outside Union Grove.
MemDay 1.JPG

Flags adorn veterans' graves at the Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery outside Union Grove.
MemDay 2.JPG

1st Sgt. David Litrenta salutes during the POW/MIA ceremony, which was part of the Memorial Day ceremony Sunday at the Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery outside Union Grove.
MemDay 3.JPG

Mary M. Kolar, secretary-designee for the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs, speaks during a Memorial Day ceremony Sunday at the Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery outside Union Grove.
MemDay 4.JPG

U.S. Rep. Bryan Steil, R-Wis., speaks during a Memorial Day ceremony Sunday at the Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery outside Union Grove.
MemDay 6.JPG

Gov. Tony Evers speaks during a Memorial Day ceremony Sunday at the Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery outside Union Grove.
MemDay 7.JPG

Lisa Bizler, representing Gold Star Mothers, places a wreath during a Memorial Day ceremony Sunday at the Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery outside Union Grove.
MemDay 8.JPG

Pastor David DeBerge delivers the benediction during a Memorial Day ceremony Sunday at the Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery outside Union Grove.
MemDay 9.JPG

Sgt. Tom Nachtwey plays taps at the conclusion of the Memorial Day ceremony Sunday at the Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery outside Union Grove.