Tuscola County Observes Memorial Day

This article was originally published by The Tuscola County Advertiser.

CASS CITY — In observance of Monday’s Memorial Day holiday, thousands of Americans will pause to commemorate those who laid down their lives for the cause of freedom. Cities, towns, and burgs throughout the nation will continue the tradition of honoring the fallen brave.

But for Cass City area residents, the annual Memorial Day ceremony is more than a solemn time of remembrance — it is an occasion that truly brings the community together.

Throughout the Elkland Township Cemetery, which serves much of the Cass City area, small American flags will mark each resting place of the nearly 600 U.S. veterans buried there. The task of locating the graves and placing the flags is the responsibility of the Cass City Area Historical & Genealogy Society, the organization also responsible for creating a virtual map and burial database for the cemetery, which they use to locate the grave of each veteran.

Society president Katie Jackson says that the task is a labor of love. “It’s a lot of organization,” she said. But she feels it is worth the effort. “To me, it’s important because my father was a World War I veteran. He was very, very involved in the American Legion. It was very important to him.” Through the efforts of Jackson and a slew of volunteers, including teacher Josh Stern’s sixth grade class, members of the Cass City High School National Honor Society, and about 30 other members of the community, all 600+ flags were in place by late Wednesday morning.

In addition to the hundreds of miniature flags, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 3644 will erect about 180 full-size American flags — a moving sight as each flag represents a deceased member of the local VFW Post. Post Commander Joe Merchant and fellow veterans will begin setting up the “Avenue of Flags” on Sunday afternoon.

Preparation for the display also serves as a sort of bridging of the generation gap. Area Boy Scouts help the veterans post the flags and set out the dozens of wooden plaques along the cemetery entrance. Merchant says that having the young men working alongside the veterans is a great thing. “I think it’s important for these younger kids to be involved in putting the flags out,” he said. “It may impress upon them what sacrifices have been made to be able to live in a free society. I think it gives them the sense that…freedom isn’t free. Lots of people have sacrificed for the freedoms we enjoy today.”

Another integral part of the annual Memorial Day ceremony in Cass City is the support of its local churches. Each year, a pastor from one of the community’s congregations gives a message at the cemetery. This year’s speaker is Rev. David Hill, pastor at First Baptist Church of Cass City and a chaplain for the Michigan State Police.

Cass City’s Memorial Day events begin Monday with a wreath-laying ceremony and parade at 10 a.m., which will start at the intersection of Main and Seeger Streets and will end at the Elkland Township Cemetery. The color guard and area veterans will lead the parade, followed by the Cass City High School marching band, community youth sporting leagues, Boy & Girl Scouts, and other local groups.

The service at the cemetery, located about 1/2 mile east of the main stoplight, will begin around 10:30 a.m., with VFW member Mark Zmierski serving as master of ceremonies and Pastor David Hill delivering the address.

Caro

A Memorial Day service will take place Thursday, May 30 at 6 p.m. at the Indianfields Township Cemetery. Music will be provided by Barb Graff and Senator Mike Green will be the guest speaker at the event.

Cass City

A Memorial Day parade will commence Monday at 10 a.m., beginning with a wreath laying ceremony. The parade will end at the Elkland Township Cemetery.

Akron

The Fairgrove VFW Post 7486 will do a Memorial Day parade 10 a.m., at the village park in Akron. Then at 11 a.m. post members will have a parade at Mulberry Park in the village of Fairgrove.

Mayville

The American Legion Post 181 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10884 of Mayville will co-host Memorial Day services for the Mayville community on Monday. Services will begin with a parade featuring members of both the VFW and American Legion posts. All participants are asked to meet in the parking area between the Middle School and High School at 8:45 a.m.  The parade will begin at 9 a.m. Cemetery services will begin at the Fremont Township Cemetery at 9:30 a.m. followed by the Rich Township Cemetery at 10:10 a.m. and the Watertown Township Cemetery at 10:50 a.m.

Unionville

The village of Unionville will host the Memorial Day Parade 9 a.m., May 27, at the Kemp park, which is at the corner of M-24 and M-25.

The guest speaker is Pastor Thon from the Unionville Methodist church.

Sebewaing

The Memorial Day Parade in the village of Sebewaing will be 10:30 a.m., Monday, May, 27.

The parade will start at the Sebewaing Fire Department’s parking lot to Muellerwise Park across from the U. S. Post Office.

Vassar

Vassar Veterans Memorial Support Group member Cpl. Rick Miller will be the keynote speaker at the ceremony at 11 a.m. Monday at Vassar’s Riverside Cemetery.