Residents will gather at this monument in the Algoma Township Memorial Park, located across the street from Algoma Baptist Church, on Grange Avenue Monday for Memorial Day services. The park was dedicated last Memorial Day. Post photo by J. Reed

Memorial Day is a day to remember and honor those that gave their lives while defending our country. It’s also a day to remember all those that have served and are now deceased. Inside this issue are the names of veterans buried in area cemeteries, and we honor them with this issue of The Cedar Springs Post, on pages 11-14. If you know of a veteran’s name that is missing from the list, please let us know and we’ll add them for next year.

There will be several memorial activities and ceremonies taking place this weekend that residents are encouraged to take part in:

The Cedar Springs Historical Society is having its 10th Annual Cemetery Walk, Sunday, May 30 at 2:00 p.m. to honor veterans of all wars. This years veterans will be Ebenezer Jewell, War of 1812; John Roys, Mexican/American War; Alfred Plumb, Spanish/American War; Abram S. Tuttle, Civil War; Frank VanLew, World War I; Russell, George and William Schultz, World War II; Charles Haynes, Korean War; Thomas Kemp, Vietnam War.  Biographical and historical information will be presented at each gravesite. The Glen Hill Post #287 of the American Legion honor guard will assist at the presentation. They will leave from the museum in Morley Park at 1:30 p.m. and return there for refreshments at the completion of the walk. If there are severe weather warnings, the event will be canceled.

The American Legion Glen Hill Post #287 will be holding services in several area cemeteries on Monday, May 31, and has done so for over 35 years. They will be at Elmwood Cemetery at 9:00 a.m., Solon Township Cemetery at 10:00 a.m., East Nelson Cemetery at 10:45 a.m. and the Senior Citizens Center on Elm Street in Cedar Springs at 11:30 a.m. The Cedar Springs High School band will be on hand, and the guest speaker will be Gerald Dennis, a 1963 graduate of Cedar Springs High School, past department commander, and past 5th district commander of the American Legion. In case of bad weather, the services will be held in the American Legion Hall at 9:00 a.m.

The Sand Lake/Cedar Springs Tri-Corner Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #7912 will also be having ceremonies on Monday, May 31. They will be at the monument next to VFW Post in Sand Lake at 10:30 a.m., and then in Pierson Cemetery at 11 a.m. The Tri County Marching Band will also participate.

Algoma Township will hold services at Memorial Park, on Monday, May 31, at 1:00 p.m. on 10516 Grange Ave., next to Algoma Township Cemetery. Services will include the American Legion Rockford Post 102, V.F.W. Post 3946, 3rd Michigan Volunteer Infantry Co. F-Civil War, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. There will be a tribute to Algoma Township servicemen that were killed in action: Elmer Badder (WWII), Arden R. Ives (WWII), Dennis Merryman (Vietnam), James “Jimmy” Murrell (Vietnam), and Daniel Louis Behm (Vietnam).

The Sparta American Legion Post #107 will hold a Memorial Day program on Monday, May 31, at 10 a.m. in Lamoreaux Park in Sparta. Services will include the Sparta high School Band, Color Guard and Firing Squad, Boy Scout Troops, and American Legion members. We will gather to honor veterans of all wars and those who did not make it home after serving our country. Please join us in remembering American heroes.