KALAMAZOO (WKZO-AM/FM) — With Memorial Day 2017 just a few days away, over 30 local communities are planning activities. The complete list follows:
Kalamazoo County
- Galesburg-Augusta – Ft. Custer National Cemetery will hold the Placement of Flags along the Avenue of Flags beginning at 8 am on Saturday., May 27th. The Cemetery will hold its Memorial Day service at 1 pm on Sunday, May 28th.
- Kalamazoo – The Kalamazoo-Sunrise chapter of the Rotary Club will sponsor the annual Memorial Day parade, beginning at 10 am. The route runs from Michigan Ave. to Riverside Cemetery on Gull Rd.
- Portage – A parade begins at 10 am from Southland Mall, travels down S. Westnedge Ave., and ends at the Portage Central Cemetery and Veterans’ Memorial.
- Climax – Memorial Day/Founders’ Day activites begin at 9 am and run through 2:30 pm. The annual “Run to Climax 7K” and 2-mile walk begin at 8:15 am, with the parade kicking off at 10 am from Climax-Scotts HS.
- Comstock – Parade participants will gather at VFW Post 6252 at 11 am, with the parade beginning at noon. The parade begins on Comstock Ave. and travels to Peer Park.
- Fulton – Fulton’s Memorial Day activities, the 104th annual edition, commence with a Kids’ parade at noon, followed by a community parade at 12:15 pm. After the parade, ceremonies will be held at South Fulton Cemetery.
- Richland/Gull Lake – A program will be held at Prairie Home Cemetery beginning at 11 am.
- Schoolcraft – Parade begins at 10:40 am , followed by a ceremony at the Schoolcraft Cemetery.
- Vicksburg – Parade kicks off at 10 am at the Vicksburg Administration Building and will end at the Vicksburg Cemetery on W Ave.
Allegan
- Allegan – Parade at 10 am, beginning at the Griswold Auditorium and traveling to the Oakwood Cemetery.
- Martin/Gun Lake – Parade kicks off from Martin HS at 10 am, and travels to Memorial Park on N Main St.
- Otsego/Alamo Twnship – The parade starts at 9 am at Mountain Home Cemetery and ends at Memorial Park.
- Plainwell/Cooper Twnship – 11 am parade begins in downtown Plainwell and travels to Hillside Cemetery.
- Saugatuck/Douglas – Parade begins at 9 am in Saugatuck, and at 10 am in Douglas.
- Van Buren
- Bangor – A ceremony takes place at the Veterans’ Memorial at 8:30 am. The parade starts at 9:30 am, moving along M-43 to Arlington Hill Cemetery.
- Bloomingdale – The parade begins at 11 am, starting at Bloomingdale HS and ending at Village Park.
- Breedsville – 11 am parade beginning on Main St., traveling to Breedsville Cemetery.
- Decatur – Ceremonies begin at 11 am at Lakeside Cemetery, then move to Harrison Cemetery, Hamilton Township Cemetery at 1 pm, then at the Veterans’ Memorial.
- Gobles – Parade will begin at 9 am on M-40, ending with a ceremony in the park.
- Lawrence – Parade starts at 10 am at Lawrence HS, making its way to Pioneer Cemetery.
- Lawton – 10 am parade, starting at the corner of 4th and Main Streets, ending at the Oak Grove Cemetery for a ceremony.
- Mattawan – Parade commences at 11 am from Mattawan Elementary School, and travels to the Village Park for a ceremony.
- Paw Paw – Parade begins at 10 am from the Bistro parking lot, down Michigan Ave., ending up at Veterans’ Memorial Park for a ceremony. A light luncheon will be served at the American Legion Hall, McGowan-Johnson Post #68.
- South Haven – A 9 am parade starts at the corner of Center and Michigan downtown, finishing with a ceremony at Lakeview Cemetery at app. 9:45 am. In case of rain, the ceremony will be held at the HS.
Barry
- Hickory Corners – The fire department will hold a pancake breakfast from 7:30-9 am. The parade kicks off at 10 am from Cadwallader Park, ending at the East Hickory Corners Cemetery. The ceremony includes a Civil Air Patrol flyover, weather permitting. The Simmonds-Williams American Legion Post #484 will hold a chicken barbecue after the ceremony.
St. Joseph
- Centreville – A parade begins at 9:30 am at Adams Park, traveling to Prairie River Cemetery for a ceremony.
- Colon – Veterans are asked to be at the American Legion by 8:30 am, with a 9 am Naval service and gun salute at the bridge. Lakeside Ceremony will hold a 10 am ceremony, followed by an 11 am at Leonidas Cemetery, and a 1 pm service at Burr Oak Cemetery.
- Constantine – An 11 am parade begins at the park at the bridge on US 131, and travels to the Constantine Township Cemetery.
- Mendon – A parade begins at noon at the Mendon Library, traveling to downtown to Nottawa St., and then returning to the Library. Ceremony and 21-gun salute follows at Catholic Cemetery, and then a similar ceremony will take place at Mendon Cemetery. All events are sponsored by the St. Joseph County Area Marine Corps League.
- Sturgis – The 10:30 am parade begins at VFW Post #1335, and ends at Oaklawn Cemetery.
- Three Rivers – A parade starts at 9 am at the corner of Kelsey and Main Streets, and travels to Riverside Cemetery.
- White Pigeon – A parade begins at 10:30 am at American Legion Post #138, located on S. Lincoln St., and travels to White Pigeon Township Cemetery. A service will be held at the memorial flagpole.
