Veterans To Be Honored
Memorial Day, May 30

Left photo: Mackinac Island Police Chief Bill Lenaghan stands before the military honor roll at the city park.

Memorial Day, Monday, May 30, is a day Americans remember those who have died in service to the nation. Americans commemorate the day by flying flags, visiting cemeteries, placing flowers at gravesites, and attending memorial services. Mackinac Island will observe the day with the following ceremonies that are open to the public.

American Legion

Post 299

A Memorial Day service by American Legion Post 299 will take place at the Veterans’ Memorial Park at 11:30 a.m. Monday, May 30.

Right photo: Soldiers from Fort Mackinac will do their traditional march from the fort to Post Cemetery.

Ceremonies will begin with the Honor Guard presenting the American flag, which will be flown at half-staff. The Chaplain, Dr. Vincent of Little Stone Church, will offer a prayer. Veteran Bill Porter is the scheduled speaker and Post Commander Paul Wandrie will address those present, followed by a closing prayer and taps.

Veterans’ Memorial Park is on Market Street across from the Island Post Office and is a tribute to the men and women of Mackinac Island who have served their county in the armed forces.

Members of Post 299 are: Donald Andress, Francis Andress Sr., Robert Benjamin, Roy Bessell Jr., John Bloswick, Francis Bourisaw, Dennis Brodeur, Francis Bunker, Louis Bunker, Thomas Bunker, Vincent Carroll, Edward Chambers, Dennis Dombroski, John Dyer, John Findley, Lois Findley, Donald Francis, Dale Gensman, Lance Greenlee, Robert Hamel, James Hamilton, Benjamin Horn, Derrick Horn, Douglas Horn, Edward Horn, Loren Horn, Robert Horn, John Hulett, III, Cory Kaminen, David Karhoff, Peter Komblevitz, Leo Krzeminski, David LaPine, William Lenaghan, John Massaway Jr., Marvin May, John McCabe, III, Jeffrey Neumann, Ronald O’Neil, MaryAnne Shannon, Scott Stevenson, Robert St. Louis, Glenn St. Onge, Robert St. Onge Jr., Robert St. Onge Sr., Mary Gillespie-Thompson, James Wandrie, Otto Wandrie, Paul Wandrie Sr., Peter Wandrie, Arnold Werner, James Williams, Sunshine Woodard, and Wayne Zwolinski.

Fort Mackinac Offers Somber Tribute to Soldiers

At 8:30 a.m. Mackinac Parks historical interpreters, who will be wearing the uniform of the U.S. Army 23rd Regiment of Infantry that served at for Mackinac in the 1880s, will march from the north sally entrance of the fort along Garrison Road to the Post Cemetery. At the cemetery, they will perform a short ceremony and salute.

“The observance is mainly to pay tribute to the soldiers who served here,” said Phil Porter, director of Mackinac State Historic Parks.

Fort Mackinac was built by British troops in 1780 during the Revolutionary War. American forces assumed control from 1796 until 1812, when the fort was captured by the British in the first land action of the War of 1812. American troops regained control of Fort Mackinac in 1815 and actively manned the island fort until 1895.

Little Stone Church

There will be a Memorial Day religious service at Little Stone Church Sunday, May 29, at 10:30 a.m., with a wreath laying by the Reverend Vincent W. Carroll, retired Navy chaplain.

All veterans and guests are welcome.