Parades and special services and ceremonies solemnly remember the ultimate sacrifice of brave men and women this Memorial Day in the Kalamazoo area.

Parades, pancake breakfasts, cemetery services, 21 gun salutes, flags, flyovers, chicken dinners and polished chrome- there are many ways to honor those who have served this Memorial Day weekend.

Friday, May 25

  • Parade starts at the intersection of Lake Blvd. and Park St. and travels down Lake Blvd. to the John E.N. Howard Bandshell. A short program at the bandshell will be held after the parade.

Sunday, May 27 

Fort Custer National Cemetery services are always remarkable and include area bands, vocalists, a military flyover and special keynote speakers.

Monday, May 28

Hickory Corners- 7:30 am- 10 am

  • Pancake breakfast at the fire department 7:30-9:30 with parade at 10 followed by services at East Hickory Corners Cemetery and American Legion Post 454 chicken barbecue.

Climax- 9 am

  • Climax Memorial/Founders Day Car Show (9 am- 2:30 pm) and Parade (10 am)

Hastings- 9 am

  • Parade

Otsego- 9 am

  • A ceremony will begin at Mountain Home Cemetery. The parade will step off at 9:15 and end at Memorial Park for speeches and a program at the Otsego Area Veteran’s Memorial.

Kalamazoo- 10 am

  • The parade starts at 10:00am at the corner of Michigan Avenue and Church Street and will go to Riverside Cemetery for a Memorial Day ceremony.

Portage- 10 am

  • Westnedge Ave from Southland Mall to the cemetery near the library for services.

Marshall- 10 am

  • There is a special ceremony that is directly after the parade at the historic Oakridge Cemetery.

Martin- 10 am

  • Parade down Main Street with a ceremony to follow at Memorial Park.

Vicksburg- 10 am

  • Parade

Plainwell- 11 am

  • Procession to to Hillside Cemetery for a ceremony conducted by the VFW.

Bonus Video: Charlotte's Chas Burtchett Performs His Original Song "America"

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