Monroe County region to host Memorial Day parades, events May 29-30
At least three parades, several services and a special meal will take place across the county on Memorial Day.
The Monroe Post 1138, Veterans of Foreign Wars, will host a parade through downtown Monroe at 2 p.m. May 30.
Line-up will begin at 1 p.m. on Jones Ave. The route will begin on S. Monroe St. and end at St. Mary’s Park. A ceremony on the Monroe St. bridge will honor those who died at sea.
The VFW Parade Committee seeks organizations, business and individuals to take part in the parade. Volunteers also are welcome to help. For more information or to sign up, stop by the post at 400 Jones Ave. or call the post at (734) 242-0526.
The Monroe Post 1138, VFW also is hosting several services on May 30.
A sunrise memorial ceremony will begin at 6:30 a.m. at Heck Park/Vietnam memorial Park. A memorial service will begin at 9 a.m. at Monroe Post 1138, VFW hall.
The post's Ritual Team will split up and conduct services at several cemeteries and other locations. Services will begin at 9:30 a.m. at St. Marys/Old Burial Ground, Kentucky Cemetery and Woodlawn Cemetery.
A service will begin at 10 a.m. at LaSalle Cemetery. A service will begin at 11 a.m. at Roselawn Memorial Park. A service will begin at 11:30 a.m. at Veterans Park.
A Memorial Day Parade will take place May 30 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 Rd. to the Veterans Memorial at Flat Rock City Hall, Gibraltar Rd. at Evergreen St.
Children are encouraged to decorate their bicycles and ride in the parade.
The Dundee Veterans Memorial Observance will take place May 30 in Dundee.
The Dundee Veterans Corporation will hold its annual observance at 10 a.m. at Wolverine Park, located behind the old Mill Museum.
The parade will form at the Dundee High School parking lot and proceed to Wolverine Park via Barnum St. Those participating should be at the school at 9:30 a.m. The parade will step-off 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 and the DHS Choir will be part of the ceremony.
The speaker is Sgt. Keith Kamphuis, who joined the Navy in 2005 as a corpsman. He volunteered for Fleet Marine Corps Infantry and then joined the Army, serving in the medical corp. During his service, he was deployed to Iraq three times and to Afghanistan once.
“He medically retired from military service in 2015 and continues his service to this fellow comrades, working for the VA as a clinical outreach social worker,” Cymbola said.
Kamphuis and his wife, Elizabeth, have three children and moved to Dundee last year.
After the ceremony the Veterans Honor Guard will go to Oak Grove, Maple Grove, Leib and Azalia Cemeteries to conduct services.
The Veterans Club will hold an open house at the Veterans Hall at 1 p.m. Festivities will begin with a tribute to POWs and MIAs.
“The community is cordially invited to join us in honoring our comrades,” Cymbola said.
A Memorial Day service will take place at 10 a.m. Sunday, May 29 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Maybee, 7771 High St.
Feature will be patriotic music followed by Taps and a sermon preached by the new minister, Chaplain James Puhl. Minister Puhl is a retired Purple Heart recipient of the Vietnam War. The public, especially veterans and their families, are encouraged to attend.
A barbecue dinner will be offered May 30 at Monroe Center for Healthy Aging, 15275 S. Monroe St.
A meal of barbecue chicken, mashed sweet potatoes and broccoli salad, will be served at 11:30 a.m. Music by DJ Manny Perez will be offered from noon to 1 p.m. Attendees also can karaoke.
Fruit smoothie samples also will be served.
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Monroe County region to host Memorial Day parades, events May 29-30
