Memorial Day 2018 Lansing Area Events & Parades
(Source: Lansing State Journal)
Mid-Michigan events honoring those who have paid the ultimate price for their country this weekend. Ceremonies, parades, and other events start as early as Thursday afternoon through Monday.
May 24
Wreath-laying Ceremony, 3 p.m. in front of the East Lansing Hannah Community Center, 819 Abbot Road. In honor of Memorial Day, community members are invited to attend a brief wreath-laying ceremony at East Lansing’s Medal of Honor Memorial and Veterans Monument.
In addition, the City of East Lansing has posted a list of the East Lansing residents who lost their lives in service to our country on the city website. Community members can email Elaine Hardy, ehardy@cityofeastlansing.com, to report any service members missing from the list.
May 26
Civil War Memorial Day Services, 10:30 a.m. Mt. Hope Cemetery, Civil War Soldiers Lot, 1709 E. Mt. Hope, Lansing. The Lansing/Sunfield Curtenius Guard Camp #17, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, will be conducting Civil War Memorial Day services.
Grand Ledge Memorial Day Parade, 11 a.m. The annual parade, sponsored by American Legion Cole Briggs Post 48, will be honoring veterans but particularly veterans from the Vietnam conflate. The parade route will begin at Jackson Street then proceed to the Grand Ledge Library to honor World War II veterans. After the flag raising at the library, the parade will proceed to the river for the Gold Star Mothers to place a wreath in the river to honor the veterans who have been lost at sea. The parade will then proceed to Oakwood Cemetery Vietnam Memorial to hear the guest speaker. Thomas Hlinke will be the Grand Marshall. A luncheon at the American Legion Post at 731 N. Clinton St. will be prepared and served by the Post 48 Legion Auxiliary immediately following the conclusion of the ceremony. Anyone wishing to participate can contact Dale Walters at 749-4942 or Post 48 after 4 p.m. at 622-1232.
May 28
Memorial Day Breakfast, 9-11 a.m. Dansville Community Center, 1317 Mason St. Free-will offering with proceeds going to Gal’s for a Guatemala mission trip.
Mason Memorial Day Parade, steps off from Bond Park at 9 a.m.
Elsie Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony, first will be staging on Pine Street just north of the Town and Tub gas station from 9:30-9:45 a.m. The parade will kick off at 9:45 a.m. going east on Pine Street for a block, then south to Main Street and then west to the memorial stone between the village hall and the bank. Anyone wanting to be in the parade needs to show up at the staging times.
The Memorial Ceremony begins at 10 a.m. The day will include a talk about the Blue Star Families and Gold Star Families. The American Legion Post 502 of Elsie will fire a rifle salute. Pastor Seelhoff will say the benediction and the service will conclude by 11 a.m.
Brothers Gale and Gary Bensinger have a display of historic uniforms, weapons and equipment in the back of the Perx & Pastries on North Ovid Street across from the Town and Tub Gas station. The items will be on display through the week.
Williamston Bill Turner Memorial Day Parade, 10 a.m. on School Street in front of the new Commons Building. The parade will proceed north on Putnam Street, straight through the stop light at Grand River Avenue (M-43), to the Wall of Honor in McCormick Park, where there will be a ceremony to honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice. The keynote speaker will be Dr. Adam Spina, WCS superintendent and military veteran.
American Legion Post 269 Memorial Day Service, 11 a.m. Ralya Elementary School, 5645 School St., Haslett. A cookout will follow at the post. Veterans eat for free. In case of rain, service will be conducted inside the post, 1485 Haslett Road.
Memorial Day Barbecue, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. First Presbyterian Church, 162 N. Bridge St., Dimondale. The Annual Memorial Day Chicken BBQ after the parade. The Parade starts at 11 a.m., barbecue at about 11:30 a.m. Hamburgers and hot dogs will also be served. All meals come with chips, coleslaw, applesauce, dessert and beverage. Cost: Half-chicken is $7.50, 1/4 chicken is $6, hamburgers and hot dogs are $5.
Meridian Township Memorial Day Service, noon. Glendale Cemetery off Mt. Hope Road, Okemos. There will be pre-ceremony bagpipes, a color guard with drum cadence, an assortment of music from the Meridian Community Band, Pledge of Allegiance, “The Meaning of Memorial Day” by Meridian Township Clerk Brett Dreyfus, a selection of hymns from the various branches of our military, benediction by a local religious leader and a keynote speaker.
Delhi Township Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony, 2 p.m. 2074 N. Aurelius Road, Holt.
Memorial Day 2018 parades and events in Lansing area
Memorial Day is a day for honoring those who have died while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. Originally called Decoration Day after the end of the Civil War, the holiday is observed annually on the last Monday of May. This list will help you celebrate the holiday with parades, services and more.