KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – The Memorial Day weekend may mark the beginning of the summer season, but that’s not why we have a three-day holiday at the end of every May.
It was originally established to remember all the Americans who lost their lives in the Civil War. Families would visit the graves of soldiers who died in that terrible conflict.
As more wars were waged, it evolved into a day to remember all war dead, and was finally declared a national holiday in 1966 to mark the 100th anniversary of the day it began.
In Kalamazoo, several communities in the area will be holding observations.
The largest will be the memorial service at Fort Custer National Cemetery near Augusta Sunday at 2 p.m. The speaker will be Laura de Roo, Chaplain of the Blue Star Mothers of Southwest Michigan.
Several local communities will hold parades and grave side services on Monday.
Bruce Justin says the Sunrise Rotary is sponsoring Kalamazoo’s events.
Justin says honoring the nation’s war dead is one issue we should all agree on.
The Memorial Day parade in Portage will step off at 10:00 a.m. and head south on Westnedge Avenue to Veterans Memorial Park, near the library for ceremonies.
The parade in Vicksburg will begin at 10 a.m. and conclude with ceremonies at the township cemetery Monday.
The parade in Comstock begins at 11 a.m.
Climax plans a pancake breakfast, a 10 a.m. parade and a crafts show through the mid-day on Monday.
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