Marches, wreaths and live music will mark Memorial Day ceremonies in communities across Northern Michigan.
According to USA Today, Memorial Day is one of 11 federal holidays recognized in the U.S. and it is always observed on the last Monday of May. This year, most commemorations are on Monday, May 25.
The day is a somber occasion to honor U.S. military members who have died while in service.
Here are some of the events and ceremonies taking place around Northern Michigan:
Emmet County
Petoskey
The Carl O. Weaver American Legion Post 194 in Petoskey has organized a full morning of remembrance events.
The schedule starts with an honors ceremony at 8:30 a.m. in the Veterans Honor Garden at Greenwood Cemetery, followed by another honors ceremony to recognize those lost at sea at 9:30 a.m. at the Festival Place Shelter.
The downtown parade will begin lining up at 10:15 a.m. at Emmet and Mitchell streets. The parade will start at 10:30 a.m. with the procession making its way to Pennsylvania Park. Due to ongoing road construction, the route will be Mitchell Street to Petoskey Street, then over to Lake Street and into the park. The Memorial Day program will begin at 11 a.m. by the gazebo.
After the program, the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 194 will host a luncheon for area veterans and the public at the post, 455 Bay St. The American Legion Riders and other motorcyclists will then take part in the First Annual Cpl. Michael Lindemuth Memorial Ride.
Harbor Springs
The Harbor Springs Smith-Hoover American Legion Post 281 will host a parade at 10 a.m. down Main Street to Zorn Park for a ceremony.
Prior to the parade, there will be a breakfast at the post, 103 E. 3rd St., from 7-10 a.m. The breakfast is open to the public and entry is $12.
The Outfitter will also be offering a Memorial Day 5K Run/Walk with an 8 a.m. start time in Zorn Park. All entry fees will go to the Harbor Springs Community Food Pantry. To register, visit outfitterharborsprings.com.
Charlevoix County
East Jordan
The Depot Jordan Valley Teen Center, 214 Main St., is set to host a Memorial Day Open House from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event includes lunch, live music, a collection of patriotic war memorabilia and a bounce house for kids. There will also be an Honor Wall to recognize family members of Depot teens who have served or are currently serving in the United States Armed Forces.
The American Legion Post 227 will be visiting several area cemeteries prior to the city’s annual parade. Veterans are welcome to join for coffee and doughnuts at the hall, 305 Main St., at 6:30 a.m. The group will leave at 7:15 a.m. and visit Calvary Cemetery, Pesic Cemetery, Bohemian Cemetery, Dunsmore Cemetery, Sunset Cemetery and Grandvue Medical Care Facility.
Lineup for the parade begins at 10:30 a.m. at GAR Park, with the parade starting at 10:45 a.m. After arriving in Memorial Park, there will be a remembrance ceremony.
Charlevoix
The annual Memorial Day parade will begin at 10 a.m. and will be followed by a service in East Park.
Boyne City
Ceremonies will take place at many area cemeteries and parks. The schedule includes:
The annual Memorial Day procession will leave from the American Legion Post, 302 S. Lake St., at 11:45 a.m. and will be followed by ceremonial activities starting at noon.
Cheboygan County
Mackinaw City
The Memorial Day parade is set to start at 1 p.m. sharp on Saturday, May 23. It will go from Conkling Park to Colonial Michilimackinac.
The parade has taken place every year since 1962 and is billed as “one of the largest Michigan Memorial Weekend Parades.”
The parade lineup include five high school bands, the Scottville Clown Band and the Petoskey Steel Drum Band. Four Michigan queens will also be included, as well as a wide variety of floats, antique vehicles, businesses mascots and more.
The Grand Marshall this year is Donna Crandall Watkins of Carp Lake, who will be turning 101 this year. She worked at Lansing’s Nash Kelvinator Plant producing airline parts during World War II.
There will also be a memorial ceremony at 10 a.m. on Monday, May 25 at Veteran’s Park.
Cheboygan
Rifle volleys will take place at 9:15 a.m. at St. Francis Cemetery and at 9:45 a.m. at Mt. Calvary Cemetery.
There will also be ceremonies in Washington Park at 10:15 a.m. and in Veteran’s Memorial Park at 11 a.m., which will include the reading of names.
The final ceremony of the day will take place at 11:45 a.m. in Pine Hill Cemetery.
Indian River
The Memorial Day parade will begin at 10 a.m. at Modern Pharmacy and continue to Veteran’s Park.
Wolverine
There will be a ceremony at 12:30 p.m. at the Baptist Church, followed by a Memorial Day parade at 1 p.m. The parade starts at the church and ends at Lumberjack Park with a ceremony.
A memorial and reading of names will also take place at Silver Lake Cemetery following the Lumberjack Park ceremony.
Otsego County
Gaylord
The Memorial Day parade begins at 10 a.m., with VFW Post 1518 set to lead the parade east down Main Street to the memorial in front of the courthouse. Community members will carry a large 20’x30′ American flag and VFW members will ceremoniously fold the flag once they arrive at the memorial.
Sergeant First Class (Retired) David Hyde will be the guest speaker at the ceremony. There will also be the presentation of wreaths, a rifle salute and the playing of Taps.
Eastern Upper Peninsula
DeTour Village
The Memorial Day Salute will begin at noon at DeTour Veterans Park.
Kinross
The Kinross Recreation Center’s Memorial Day parade will begin lining up at 10:30 a.m. The parade then gets underway at 11 a.m.
Mackinac Island
Fort Mackinac will host a brief and informal Memorial Day observance to pay tribute to the soldiers who served at the historic fort. Soldiers will assemble at 8:30 a.m. at Fort Mackinac, march to the cemetery, perform a short ceremony and salute, and then return to the fort.
— Contact Jillian Fellows at jfellows@petoskeynews.com.
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Northern Michigan to mark Memorial Day with parades, ceremonies
Reporting by Jillian Fellows, The Petoskey News-Review / The Petoskey News-Review
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