By Gari Voss
Monday, May 27th marks Memorial Day 2024, a day to remember all those who have given their lives to preserve the freedom of the United States. Across Allegan County, veterans, community leaders, and volunteers plan celebrations to honor those from their communities who gave the ultimate to their country.
City of Allegan
Monday, May 27, 2023: Parade & Service
10:00am – All interested in participating in the parade should be at the County Courthouse Parking Lot by 9:45am. All are encouraged to participate in the parade and no registration is necessary. The American Legion and Allegan High School Band will lead the parade around Downtown to Monroe St. then up Western Ave. (Water Tower Hill) to Oakwood Cemetery.
11:00am – Service led by the Allegan American Legion at Oakwood Cemetery with the American Legion, Boy and Girl Scouts, Allegan High School Band, Sons of the Civil War and military groups, plus the fire trucks.
City of Fennville
Friday, May 24, 2024, 5-7pm: Fridays in Fennville – Imagination
Downtown Main Street will be busy. Cohosted by the City of Fennville and the Fennville District Library, the evening will include balloon art, face painting, crafts, a magician, prize wheel, scavenger hunt, puppet show, caricaturist. Fun for the family!
Monday, May 27, 2023, 10am: Fennville Memorial Day Parade & Program
The Fennville VFW Post 7911 under the leadership of Quartermaster David Hopkins will sponsor the Fennville Memorial Day Parade and Memorial Service at the Fennville Cemetery. The community is invited to join us in celebrating, remembering and honoring those who served and died for our country. The VFW encourages community support and participation and invites all area veterans to join in the parade. The public may watch the parade along then follow to the Fennville Cemetery for our Memorial Day Service. If questions, contact jodymartin1@comcast.net.
9:30-10am: The parade will line up on North Maple Street (at the park entrance).
10am: The Fennville High School Marching Band, under the direction of Mr. Andres Garcia will play the Star Spangled Banner. Boy Scout Troop 45 and Pack 3045 will lead the flag raising ceremony in front of Veterans Memorial Park on North Maple Street.
The parade route is South to 1st Street; East on 1st Street to Park Street: South on Park Street to Main Street (M-89); then West to the cemetery. The VFW encourages all veterans, community members and scout troops to participate in the parade along with decorated bicycles, golf carts, vintage automobiles, horses or floats.
The cemetery program will be led by Joe Marble, Parrish Coordinatorfrom San Felipe de Jesus Church. The FHS Band will perform “God Bless the USA” and Fennville High School 2024 graduate, Christopher Hopkins, will deliver the Memorial Day message. Following the Benediction a firing squad comprised of local veterans will present the traditional “Salute to the Dead.” Echo taps will be presented by the FHS band students, Christian Balder and Anthony Martinez.
A community ice cream social will be held at the Fennville United Methodist Church following the parade.
Dorr
The Dorr American Legion Post 127, 4310 18th St., Dorr, will honor veterans at local cemeteries. Please, attend at the closest cemetery. For information call (616) 681-2259 or Barbara Lavigne, barblavigne2009@yahoo.com.
8 a.m. – Flag raising at the Post
8:30 a.m. – St. Stanislas Cemetery
9:15 a.m. – Ricther Cemetery
10 a.m. – Dorr Cemetery
10:45 a.m. – Jones Cemetery
11:30 a.m. – Sproat Cemetery
12 noon – Dorr Park Veterans Memorial
City of Otsego
Monday, May 27, 2024, 9am: Service & Parade
Coordinated by Otsego VFW Post 3030 and the American Legion Post 84 of Otsego, the celebration will begin with a service at 9am at the Oak Hill Cemetery on Farmer St. The Parade will form about 9:15am and march south on Farmer Street with a stop at the river then end at Memorial Park. All are welcome to join in the parade. For additional information, contact Ric at 296 615-5031.
City of Plainwell
Monday, May 27, 2024, 11am: Memorial Day Parade & Remembrance
The Plainwell VFW Post 9377 and the Friends of the Greater Plainwell Veterans Memorial, Inc. invite and encourage all active and retired military personnel and children through adults to participate by being in the parade, watching the parade, and coming to the cemetery for this very special tribute.
10:45am: Parade participants – the Plainwell High School Band, horses, bikes, and vehicles – will line up by Ace Hardware.
11am: The Parade will head to the Hillside Cemetery via M89. A stop will be made on the bridge to remember those lost at sea.
11:45am (approx..): A Ceremony to Remember the fallen.
Contact Cheryl at (269) 685-3413 for more information.
City of Saugatuck Memorial Day Weekend
Monday, May 27, 2024,
8:30am: Arrive at the American Legion Post 137, 248 Mason St, Saugatuck
9am: The Parade is sponsored by the American Legion Post #137 and starts at Culver St. then down Butler St. to Mary St. and ends at Memorial Park with a brief ceremony.
Those wishing to participate (only those decorated for Memorial Day) send a text to 616 218-7278.
City of Douglas
Monday, May 27, 2023, 10:30am: Douglas Parade
The American Legion Post #137 travels from Saugatuck to Douglas where the Parade starts at Lake Vista SuperValu, 86 W. Center St. then proceeds down Center Street to Beery Field and is followed by a service.
Saugatuck/Douglas additional graveside services
After the Douglas service, veterans go to
11ish Riverside Cemetery, 3461 Clearbrook Dr., Saugatuck.
11:30am Douglas Cemetery, 130th Ave., Douglas
Noonish Plummerville Cemetery, Lakeshore Drive south of 121st Ave.
Hopkins Township
Monday, May 27, 2024, 10am: Memorial Day Service, Maplewood Cemetery
Maplewood Cemetery 130th Ave & 17th St.
All are invited to honor our fallen soldiers. The Keynote speaker will be Major David Sebright, US Army Retired. The memorial activities feature the Wayland VFW, Sons of the Union Civil War Veterans, Hopkins Boy Scouts Troop 96, Hopkins High School Band, and Hopkins FFA Chapter. Maplewood Cemetery is at the corner of 130th Avenue and 17th Street. The celebration will happen rain or shine, so being a lawn chair and bottled water.
Martin
Monday, May 27, 2023, 9am: Memorial Parade & Service
9:30am: Parade participants line up at Martin High School, 1556 Chalmers St.
10am: The Parade steps off. The Parade comes out of the HS on Allegan St. and turn north on 10th St. and ends at the Veteran’s Memorial, which is north on 10th St. out of town.
All are asked to participate in this remembrance of fallen soldiers sponsored by the Village and Township of Martin along with area veterans.
Pullman
Monday, May 27, 2024, Noon: Memorial Day Celebration Party
10am-Noon: Plant Sale
10:45-noon: Volunteers Needed to help plant flowers.
11am-1pm: Children’s Activities – Paint a rock to help create a rock snake; Decorate a Bike for the parade.
11am-1pm: Live Music with Greg Vulcan
Noon-1pm: Free Lunch
Noon-1pm: Share ideas to Beautify Downtown Pullman and be entered in a raffle.
Noon: VFW Ralph Daily, Jr. Post 6134 and Beautify Pullman will begin with the unveiling of the Veterans’ Memorial and Honor Wall at the Pullman Town Square
1pm: a free community picnic
1pm: Decorate it & Bring it Down for the parade; 1st, 2nd & 3rd place Prizes for decorated bikes. 1sr place for best classic car.
1:30pm: Line up by the VFW
2pm: the annual Memorial Day parade that will travel to the Lee Township Cemetery
3:30pm: Memorial Service at Lee Township Cemetery
Wayland
Monday, May 27, 2024,
7:15am: Cemetery Honors – Veterans wishing to participate arrive at Wayland VFW by 7:15am.
8am: Hooker Cemetery. 8:20am: Hill Cemetery. 8:50am: Native American Cemetery. 9:15am: Germond Cemetery. 9:45am: St. Cyril & Methodius Cemetery. 10:15am: Elmwood Cemetery
11am: Memorial Day Parade
Before 10:15am – Floats and parade vehicles line up on Dahlia St. facing Main St.
Before 10:40am – walkers, decorated bikes & horses line up in the field from the Police Post.
For information contact Denise at denise@waylandchamber.org
11am – The Parade begins at Wayland State Polics Post, 544 N. Main St. and ends at the Wayland VFW, 735 S. Main St. The parade will stop downtown to play Taps at the flag in the downtown mini-park. (No horns, no sirens in memory of the fallen Veterans.
12pm: VFW Post Memorial Day Ceremony at the VFW
12:30pm: Luncheon at VFW (cash & check only)
