This year’s Zeeland Memorial Day parade route will be a little shorter than normal because of the Church Street reconstruction. Instead of ending at Zeeland Cemetery, Monday’s parade will finish on Central Avenue at Maple Street. The Memorial Day service after the parade will be at Second Reformed Church instead of the cemetery.
By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
This year’s Memorial Day events in Zeeland will be much different than usual, due primarily to the ongoing construction on Church Street.
The parade route for Monday’s commemoration has been altered, ending on Central Avenue at Maple Street instead of at the entrance to Zeeland Cemetery. In addition, the memorial service after the parade will take place at Second Reformed Church instead of the cemetery.
The entrance to the cemetery was torn up last summer as construction began on the project to rebuild Church Street, install new water lines and upsize sanitary sewer lines. The veterans memorial at the cemetery entrance was also removed, but will be put back in place after the construction project is finished.
The parade will begin at 9 a.m. at the corner of Main and Maple. From there, the parade route will head west on Main, then south onto Elm Street, then east on Cherry Avenue to Centennial Street, then south on Centennial to Central and east on Central, ending at Maple.
Participants in the parade will include the Gilbert D. Karsten Legion Post color guard and drill team, veterans, local school bands, floats, school children, motorcycles, antique vehicles, and horses. Please note that campaigning and commercial advertising are not permitted in the parade.
Veterans, whether you plan to walk or ride in a vehicle, should meet at the corner of Main and Maple, in the greenspace next to Community Restaurant, for organization by your time in service. Veterans should arrive between 8:30 a.m. and 8:50 a.m. Veterans may choose to march in military uniforms or civilian clothes. Those who are unable to walk in the parade will be offered rides in cars or military vehicles.
After the parade, veterans, family members and the public are encouraged to attend the Memorial Day service at Second Reformed Church, which is expected to begin shortly after 10 a.m. Veterans should gather by the fountain next to Second Reformed after the parade for the procession into the church. Local Scout troops will place flags on the graves of veterans.
U.S. Navy veteran Ken Jipping will serve as the Officer of the Day. The singing of the National Anthem will be led by Pastor Miriam Barnes. Pastor Eric Barnes from Second Reformed Church will offer the Memorial Day prayer. U.S. Army veteran Jim Donkersloot will read the names of veterans buried in the Zeeland Cemetery, in national cemeteries, or overseas, and he will also deliver the Memorial Day address.
Following the presentation of the memorial wreath by Ken Kossen, the Gilbert D. Karsten Drill Squad will fire a gun salute to honor our fallen comrades, and taps will be played. The ceremony will conclude with the singing of “God Bless America.”
Those unable to attend the service in person can watch the livestream link at youtube.com/live/DLYdauhTe8k.
For more information about Memorial Day events, please contact Parade Marshal Lynette Lam at (616) 301-5041 or email zeelandfestivalsinc@gmail.com, or Deputy Parade Marshal Jim Donkersloot at (616) 772-1943 (home) or (616) 772-9000 (office).
Zeeland Record
This year’s Memorial Day events in Zeeland will be much different than usual, due primarily to the ongoing construction on Church Street.
The parade route for Monday’s commemoration has been altered, ending on Central Avenue at Maple Street instead of at the entrance to Zeeland Cemetery. In addition, the memorial service after the parade will take place at Second Reformed Church instead of the cemetery.
The entrance to the cemetery was torn up last summer as construction began on the project to rebuild Church Street, install new water lines and upsize sanitary sewer lines. The veterans memorial at the cemetery entrance was also removed, but will be put back in place after the construction project is finished.
The parade will begin at 9 a.m. at the corner of Main and Maple. From there, the parade route will head west on Main, then south onto Elm Street, then east on Cherry Avenue to Centennial Street, then south on Centennial to Central and east on Central, ending at Maple.
Participants in the parade will include the Gilbert D. Karsten Legion Post color guard and drill team, veterans, local school bands, floats, school children, motorcycles, antique vehicles, and horses. Please note that campaigning and commercial advertising are not permitted in the parade.
Veterans, whether you plan to walk or ride in a vehicle, should meet at the corner of Main and Maple, in the greenspace next to Community Restaurant, for organization by your time in service. Veterans should arrive between 8:30 a.m. and 8:50 a.m. Veterans may choose to march in military uniforms or civilian clothes. Those who are unable to walk in the parade will be offered rides in cars or military vehicles.
After the parade, veterans, family members and the public are encouraged to attend the Memorial Day service at Second Reformed Church, which is expected to begin shortly after 10 a.m. Veterans should gather by the fountain next to Second Reformed after the parade for the procession into the church. Local Scout troops will place flags on the graves of veterans.
U.S. Navy veteran Ken Jipping will serve as the Officer of the Day. The singing of the National Anthem will be led by Pastor Miriam Barnes. Pastor Eric Barnes from Second Reformed Church will offer the Memorial Day prayer. U.S. Army veteran Jim Donkersloot will read the names of veterans buried in the Zeeland Cemetery, in national cemeteries, or overseas, and he will also deliver the Memorial Day address.
Following the presentation of the memorial wreath by Ken Kossen, the Gilbert D. Karsten Drill Squad will fire a gun salute to honor our fallen comrades, and taps will be played. The ceremony will conclude with the singing of “God Bless America.”
Those unable to attend the service in person can watch the livestream link at youtube.com/live/DLYdauhTe8k.
For more information about Memorial Day events, please contact Parade Marshal Lynette Lam at (616) 301-5041 or email zeelandfestivalsinc@gmail.com, or Deputy Parade Marshal Jim Donkersloot at (616) 772-1943 (home) or (616) 772-9000 (office).
––––––––––––––––––––
Subscribe to the Legal News!
https://legalnews.com/Home/Subscription
Full access to public notices, articles, columns, archives, statistics, calendar and more
Day Pass Only $4.95!
One-County $80/year
Three-County & Full Pass also available
