Memorial Day events planned in Branch County
Area communities will honor those who died in service to their county Monday, Memorial Day. Coldwater, Quincy, and Union City will hold parades and services. Bronson will hold just a service.
The Coldwater American Legion program begins at the Four Corners at 8:30 a.m. with an address by an area veteran. That is followed by a parade west on U.S. 12 through downtown Coldwater to Oak Grove Cemetery.
The Lost At Sea Dedication takes place on a closed bridge near the Willows to honor those lost at sea. The Gathering of Flags War Memorial ceremony on Flag Hill honors those who died in past wars.
Coldwater city manager Keith Baker took time recently "to recognize and thank Mr. Jerry Ford for his leadership and organization of the annual Memorial day events."
Ford directed the ceremonies for years and planned to ease Joe Renshaw into his role. After Ford suffered recent health issues, Renshaw stepped in to help out Ford this year.
Ford "has done this most of my adult life," Renshaw said. "Basically, it was a three to five-year plan. It turned into, 'I'm here for you'"
Renshaw is known around this region for his rendition of the Star Spangled Banner since his days at Bronson High School. Recently, he sang at Kalamazoo Growlers and K-Wings games, and six weeks ago for the Grand Rapids Griffins.
"Jerry has very always been very staunch about it being to honor those lost in service," Renshaw said. "That's the difference between Veterans Day, the Fourth of July, and the Armed Forces Day. Memorial Day honors those that lost their lives fighting for our freedoms."
Coldwater American Legion Post 52 hosts a Memorial Day open house at 84 W. Chicago St. with complimentary coffee and donuts at 7 a.m. There will also be a luncheon at 11 a.m. served by the Branch County Coalition Against Domestic Violence, with food donated by Clemens. There is no cost to attend the open house.
The Bronson American Legion will hold a small service to honor those who died in military service Monday at 10 a.m. at the Bronson Cemetery off Wayne Street. There will be no parade.
The Quincy American Legion Post hosts Quincy's annual Memorial Day Monday. After a year's absence, the parade begins at 11 a.m. at the Quincy American Legion on East Chicago. It heads west on U.S. 12 to West Street into the Quincy Cemetery. Quincy United Methodist Church will hold special services at 7 p.m.
The 2022 Union City Memorial Day Parade and Cemetery Service honoring our nation's fallen Veterans begins at 10:30 a.m. from the Union City High School parking lot on St. Joseph Street. The parade will stop at the North Broadway Street Bridge to allow for a ceremony to honor the Navy and Coast Guard, then lay a wreath at Veterans Memorial Park. One of the largest area parades, the Union City event usually takes an hour and a half to complete. The parade will pause again for wreath placement at the Civil War Memorial at the First Congregational Church before ending at Riverside Cemetery. There is a memorial cemetery service held there.
This article originally appeared on The Daily Reporter: Memorial Day events scheduled Monday in Branch County include
