Suzanne Nolan WislerThe Monroe News
MONROE COUNTY — Several Memorial Day parades, services and activities are planned for this weekend. Most are on Memorial Day, which is Monday, May 27.
Monroe
Monroe Post 1138, Veterans of Foreign Wars, will host its annual Memorial Day paradethrough downtown Monroe at 2 p.m. Monday. The parade lasts about an hour.
Lineup will begin at 1 p.m. at Monroe’s Department of Public Servicesbuilding, 400 Jones Ave. The parade will process west to Monroe Street and north to the River Raisin, where a wreath-laying ceremony will take place.
Monroe Street will be closed from Jones to Elm avenues during the parade. Traffic will be detoured to Macomb, Scott, LaPlaisance and Dunbar roads.
Monroe
A Memorial Day service will begin at noon Sunday at the River Raisin National Battlefield Park, 333 N. Dixie Highway.
Musket firing demonstrations will be offered through 4 p.m. Sunday.
Erie
The recent grave of Floyd George Martin, the last World War II veteran from Erie Post 3925, Veterans of Foreign Wars, who died March 18 at age 96, will be the focus of the annual Erie Community Memorial Day Service to be offered Monday by post veterans and its auxiliary.
Members of both organizations will hold their traditional commemorative rites at 12:30 p.m. Monday at Martin's grave in the new section of St. Joseph Cemetery at Erie and Cemetery roads. Tom Sancrant, post commander, will lead the ceremony, along with a color guard and ritual team from the post.
Sancrant said Martin's grave was chosen because his family couldn't attend the post's final tribute at the burial in the cemetery in March due to inclement weather.
"Out of respect for his wife, Anna, and the family, we thought this would be a better time and more comfortable" for everyone, he said Monday. "We will honor all veterans in the community who have given the ultimate sacrifice."
The service will include the placing of floral tributes on Martin's grave along with prayers, the playing of taps and a gun salute by the ritual team. Auxiliary members also will pay floral tributes led by Dan Dusseau, president.
After the ceremony, participants and guests are invited to a picnic and luncheon under the pavilion at the post home, 1944 Erie Road. Food, refreshments and live music will be provided. Brian Gawecki, staff judge advocate for the post, is chairing the entertainment.
Post members will post flags on the graves of all deceased post members Saturday morning with assistance from a new Girl Scout group formed under the leadership of Hope Chinchak. On Monday, auxiliary members Sharon Grodi,April Killian and Jan Locydecorated the graves of 70 deceased auxiliary members with auxiliary flags inBrigham, Erie Union and St. Joseph's cemeteries and Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Cemetery in Temperance.
Carleton
Carleton Post 4093, Veterans of Foreign Wars will hold its annual parade through Carleton at 10 a.m. Monday.
The parade begins near Tiffany's Pizza and ending at the cemetery on Ash Street, where the service will be held.
Flat Rock
The annual MemorialDayparadewill 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. Theparadewill proceed along Gibraltar Road to the VeteransMemorialat Flat Rock City Hall, Gibraltar Road at EvergreenStreet, where a memorial ceremony will take place.
The parade will form at 9 a.m.
Dundee
Dundee Veterans Memorial Corp. 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. “Our guest speaker will be Army veteran Joy Wright.”
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, American Legion; Post 42, Disabled American Veterans; and Post 72, Sons of the American Legion.
Milan
American Legion Post 268 in Milan is holding its annual Memorial Day service at 9 a.m. Monday at Marble Park Cemetery.
A parade will follow the service and will end at the Wall of Honor in Wilson Park. Refreshments and snacks will be served.
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 perform the national anthem. Master of ceremony Samuel Cummings of the Legion will give opening comments and serve as the event's host.
The ceremony's guest speaker will be Drew Cummings, past commander, who's been at the post for about 10 years.
Members of the American Legion Auxiliary will place a wreath at the memorial. The American Legion Rifle Detail and honor guard will give a 21-gun salute, and the Milan High School Band will play taps.
Carrying the Legion flag in the parade will be Angela Jaworski, who was recently reelected Milan post commander for a second term. She is the first female commander of the post. Jaworski served in the Army from 1988-90.
The parade grand marshals are Ken Baumann and Chaplain Thom Publiski.
After the events, hot dogs and refreshments will be served at the legion, Jaworski said. The public is welcome.
Service in Maybee
The second annual Memorial Day service will take place at 9:30 a.m. Monday at Maybee's Northside Cemetery. The service will last about 25 minutes.
“Please join us as we honor those women and men who gave their lives for our freedom and our way of life,” said minister Jim Puhl, who will lead the service.
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. Free flowers and flags will be available. All are welcome.
Flag placement day is set for 9 a.m.-noon Saturday.
For more information, call the cemetery at 734-241-1411.
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Memorial Day activities
• A Memorial Day steak roast will take place at 3 p.m. Monday at Swan Boat Club, 6332 Brancheau Road in Newport.
Meals will be sold for $15 and up until sold out. Chicken meals also will be available.
• The splash pads at the city of Monroe's Cairns and Labor parks will open this weekend.
Adult supervision is required for children under age 12.
— Retired Monroe News reporter Dean Cousino contributed to this story. Contact reporter Suzanne Nolan Wisler at swisler@monroenews.com.
