HOLLAND, MI (WHTC) – Holland’s Memorial Day celebration will include a parade that will feature all branches of the military, high school bands and a Memorial Day Service too,
The parade starts at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, May 29, at the intersection of 8th Street and Central Avenue. This years Honorary Grand Marshals are Roger Jansen and Adrian VanHouten. Roger and Ade are both veterans of the United States Coast Guard.
Following the parade, area citizens are invited to attend a Memorial Day Service at 11:00 a.m. around the Civil War Monument at Pilgrim Home Cemetery. The monument is located on the north side of 16th Street, east of Fairbanks Avenue. This year’s program will feature keynote speaker David DeJonge, a West Michigan photographer who documented the last of the World War I veterans in the last decade. 2017 is the 100th anniversary of the United States’ entry into WWI.
Holland Mayor Nancy DeBoer will bring greetings from the City of Holland while the Holland American Legion Band will provide patriotic music. Military ceremonies, the forming of a field cross and grave decorating also will highlight the ceremony, along with the traditional playing of Taps.
The “Avenue of Flags” at Pilgrim Home Cemetery, now having grown to include 450 casket flags – each representing a deceased military veteran – will be on display at sunrise.
1450 WHTC and The New 99.7 FM will air the Memorial Day Service on air and online at www.whtc.com
