Memorial Day parades, services announced for Monroe County
Several parades and services will take place Monday, Memorial Day.
Monroe
Monroe Post 1138, Veterans of Foreign Wars, will host its annual Memorial Day parade through downtown Monroe at 2 p.m. Monday.
Lineup will begin at 1 p.m. at the city of Monroe’s Department of Public Services building on Jones Avenue. The parade will travel north on Monroe Street. Monroe Street will be closed from Jones to Elm avenues from approximately 2 to 3 p.m.
The parade will stop at the Monroe Street Bridge for a brief ceremony and rifle volley to honor those who died at sea.
Monroe Post 1138, VFW, also is hosting several Memorial Day services on Monday.
A sunrise memorial ceremony will begin at 6:30 a.m. at Heck Park/Vietnam Memorial Park. A memorial service will begin at 8:30 a.m. at Monroe Post 1138, VFW hall on Jones Avenue.
The post’s Ritual Team will then split up and conduct services at several cemeteries and other locations. Services will begin at 9:30 a.m. at St. Joseph Cemetery, the Old Burial Ground, Kentucky Cemetery and Woodlawn Cemetery. Services will begin at 10 a.m. at LaSalle Cemetery and at 10:30 a.m. at Roselawn Memorial Park, LaSalle. A service at Veterans Park will start at 11:45 a.m.
Erie
Members of Erie Post 3925, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and its auxiliary will hold a Memorial Day service at Roselawn Memorial Park in LaSalle Monday morning followed by a community picnic at the post home in Erie.
The public is invited to both events. The service will begin at 11:30 a.m. at the graves of Edward Finley Sr. and Edward Finley Jr. located near the white marble monument to veterans at the northwest corner of the cemetery. Tom Sancrant, post commander, will lead the traditional ceremony of members placing floral tributes, reading of prayers, holding a rifle salute and the playing of taps. Tom Merce will lead the ritual team, and Dan Dusseau, president of the auxiliary, will place a tribute as part of the joint service.
Edward Finley Sr. was an Army prisoner of war during World War II after being captured at the Battle of Bulge, said his grandson, Bryan Gawecki, a Marine Corps veteran, post member and chairman of the service. Finley served in the infantry and earned multiple commendations for his service, including two Purple Hearts, a Bronze Star and a POW medal. Edward Finley Jr. served as an Army helicopter medic and served four different tours in the Vietnam War, Gawecki said. His uncle earned a Good Conduct Medal and Vietnam Service Medal with four stars.
Gawecki, 48, also serves on the State VFW Honor Guard and as district adjutant.
After the service, participants and citizens are invited back to the post at 1944 Erie Road for a potluck luncheon, social and live music from noon to 4 p.m. with eating inside or outside on the covered patio. Visitors are asked to bring a dish to pass. David Toepfer, a post member, will grill hot dogs, and music will be provided by Muzical Mayhem, Celestial Blues and guitarists Greg Hayes and Curt Wolf and son. Instructors from Guitars for Veterans in Ann Arbor also will give free lessons.
Jamie Paxton, an Air Force veteran and member of the post, will bring ponies from the Little Blessings Farm in Ottawa Lake to provide pony rides for children. She is director of the farm.
Flat Rock
The annual Memorial Day parade will take place Monday in Flat Rock.
The event, hosted by the Flat Rock American Legion post, will begin at 10 a.m. at the post home, 28614 Division St. The parade will proceed along Gibraltar Road to the Veterans Memorial at Flat Rock City Hall, Gibraltar Road at Evergreen Street.
Children are encouraged to decorate their bicycles and ride in the parade.
Dundee
Dundee Veterans Memorial Corporation will hold its annual Memorial Day observance at 10 a.m. Monday at Wolverine Park, behind the Old Mill Museum.
The parade to the park will form at the Dundee High School parking lot and proceed to Wolverine Park, via Barnum Street. Everyone is welcome to participate in the parade and should be at the school by 9:30 a.m. The parade will begin at 9:45 a.m.
“Our program at Wolverine Park will pay tribute to those who have given their lives while serving in the armed forces of our nation,” Larry Cymbola, commander of Post 6462, Veterans of Foreign Wars, said. “The Dundee High School Marching Band will take part in the ceremony.”
Cymbola will offer the welcome at the park. The guest speaker is Navy Cmdr. Mickey Ellison.
“He will reflect on the meaning of Memorial Day and pay tribute to those who lost their lives while serving in the military,” Cymbola said.
The colors also will be presented. The DHS band will play the national anthem and the “Navy Hymn.” The Legion Auxiliary to Post 72, American Legion, will offer a tribute to those buried at sea. Lucy Gerber will read the opening and closing poems. Ed Chirmira will give the opening and closing prayers. A firing squad salute will begin when the wreath hits the river. Taps will be played after the third rifle volley is fired.
After the ceremony, the Veterans Honor Guard will be go to Oak Grove, Maple Grove, Leib and Azalia cemeteries to conduct services.
The Veterans Club will hold an open house at 1 p.m. at Veterans Hall. Festivities will begin with a tribute to POW/MIAs. An open house will follow. The public is welcome.
Monday's events are offered by Post 6462, VFW; Post 72, AL; Post 42, Disabled American Veterans; and Post 72, Sons of the American Legion.
Milan
American Legion Post 268 in Milan is holding a Memorial Day ceremony and parade Monday at Marble Park Cemetery.
The ceremony will begin at 9 a.m. and will include an opening prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance led by the American Heritage Girls. The Milan High School Band will sing the national anthem. Andrew Cummings, first vice chair of the legion, will give opening comments and serve as the event's emcee.
The ceremony's guest speaker will be John R. Racon, retired Army colonel.
Cummings will read the names, branches and ranks of Milan residents who died this year. A memorial bell will be rung for each person. Bells also will be rung for POW/MIAs. Members of the American Legion Auxiliary will place a wreath at the memorial. The American Legion Rifle Detail will give a 21-gun salute, and the Milan High School Band will play taps.
A parade will then travel to the Wilson Park's Milan Veterans Wall for a ceremony.
Carrying the flag in the parade will be Angela Jaworski, who was elected American Legion commander May 17. She is the first female commander of the post. Jaworski served in the Army from 1988-90.
The parade grand marshals are Rick Wilson and Tom Publiski.
The American Heritage Girls will again lead the Pledge of Allegiance and the MHS Band will sing the national anthem. The American Legion Auxiliary will place a wreath at the wall and then go across the street to place a wreath on Ford Lake. The MHS Band will play the service songs of all military branches. The American Heritage Girls will sing "God Bless America."
Carleton
The annual Carleton Memorial Day Parade will begin at 10 a.m. Monday. The parade will step off from Monroe Street, near Tiffany’s Pizza, and will end at Carleton Cemetery, Ash Street, where a ceremony will take place.
Participating will be the Airport High School Marching Band, Boy Scouts, Carleton Police, Ash Township Fire Department and a color guard from Carleton Post 4093, Veterans of Foreign Wars.
The annual Memorial Day service will follow at Carleton Cemetery. The guest speaker will be Laszlo Szalay of Brighton, a retired Navy SEAL. Arnold Lewandowski, Carleton Post 4093, VFW commander, will be the master of ceremony.
After the ceremony, the community is invited to the post home for a meal of hot dogs and drinks. A live band will play patriotic music, starting at 1 p.m.
Mass in Monroe
A Memorial Day Mass will take place at 10 a.m. Monday in the mausoleum at St. Joseph Cemetery, 909 N. Monroe St. A ceremony will begin at 9:30 a.m.
The Catholic Mass will honor fallen soldiers. The Rev. David Burgard from Sts. Mary and John Catholic churches will preside.
“We will come together to pray for the souls of the departed and offer our gratitude for their service and sacrifice,” the cemetery said in a written release.
Free flowers and flags will be available. All are welcome.
Dean Cousino contributed to this story.
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Memorial Day parades, services set for Monroe County
