Volume 1, Issue 52 MAY 24, 2024
YOUR LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED NONPROFIT NEWS SOURCE
Area Memorial Day observances By Sharon Hallack The Oceana Echo Community Contributor
Dog saved from Shelby house fire
PERMIT NO 62
PRE-SORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE
RESIDENTIAL POSTAL CUSTOMER PAID ECRWSS BIG RAPIDS, MI 49307
Just prior to midnight on Monday, May 13, the Shelby-Benona Fire Department was dispatched to a report of residential fire just inside the south village limit. Upon arrival, fire command found a single-family residence with smoke and flames showing near a bedroom on the north end of the home. All occupants of the home were accounted for, but it was noted that a dog was still inside. Fire command was able to enter the home, combat the smoke-filled room and locate the animal without further incident. Initial engine crews arrived, stretched multiple hose lines and began work on knocking down the fire. Much of the fire was contained to a back bedroom with minimal extension into the living area of the home. The cause of the fire is currently undetermined. The department would like to thank Grant Township Fire Rescue, Ferry Area Fire Department, Mason-Oceana 9-1-1, the Michigan State Police and Consumers Energy for their assistance during this incident.
Another Memorial Day weekend is upon us, and whether you will be taking your first camping trip, hosting a barbeque or plan to catch some of the Indianapolis 500, take a moment to learn about/remember the real reason behind the holiday. According to History.com, Memorial Day had its beginnings at the end of the 19th century. “The Civil War ended in 1865, claiming more lives than any other conflict in U.S. history, requiring the establishment of the first national cemeteries. By the late 1860’s, Americans in various towns and cities had begun holding springtime tributes to these countless fallen soldiers, decorating their graves with flowers and reciting prayers. “The town of Waterloo, New York, is credited with officially starting the holiday. On May 5, 1866, its citizens closed its shops and businesses so that everyone could decorate the graves of the men killed during the war. “Then on May 5, 1868, General John A. Logan, leader of an organization for Northern Civil War veterans, called for a nationwide day of remembrance later that month. On May 30, 1868, 5,000 war widows, orphans and other mourners gathered at Arlington National Cemetery, where they placed flowers and ribbons on the 20,000 graves of both Union and Confederate soldiers. “The date of Decoration Day, as he (Logan) called it, was chosen because it wasn’t the anniversary of any particular battle. ‘The 30th of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers, or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village and hamlet churchyard in the land,’ he proclaimed. “The holiday gained in popularity and was renamed “Memorial Day” by the end of the 19th century. Originally it honored only those lost while fighting in the Civil War. But during World War I, the United States found itself embroiled in another major conflict, and the holiday evolved to commemorate American military personnel who died in all wars. “In 1968, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which established Memorial Day as the last Monday in May in order to create a three-day weekend for federal employees. The change went into effect in 1971. The same law also declared Memorial
Day a federal holiday.” Today people across our nation gather on the fourth Monday of May to remember those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice their lives, for our freedoms. We also remember all veterans who have passed away of natural causes. While many Americans use the day to visit and decorate loved ones graves, the holiday is first and foremost a day to remember United States veterans who have died. In the spirit of community, we invite all Oceana Echo readers to attend one of the following services to pay their respects. Invite and bring a veteran, your family and friends. There’s a saying that says, “Freedom isn’t free.” Attending a service will cost you some time. However, it will be time well spent remembering those who’ve passed and educating the younger generation about their shared history and the origins of this day we celebrate. No matter your schedule, all veterans, community members and groups are urged to attend one of the several opportunities listed below to commemorate this most solemn of all American holidays. • 9 a.m. The Walkerville Memorial Day Observance will be held at Fairlawn Cemetery, located at 121 East Street, Walkerville. The service will include prayer by veteran Rev. David Peplinski, music by Sharon Hallack, recitation of the Gettysburg Address by veteran Gary Strait and the Veterans Ritual by the VFW and American Legion Honor Guards. • 9 a.m. - The Rothbury Village Memorial Day Observance will be held at Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Cemetery, located at 2419 West Winston Road in Rothbury. Community members will join Fr. Peter Omogo, a special speaker and area veterans, for their annual ceremony. • 9 a.m. - The Ferry Memorial Day Services will begin at the North Ferry Cemetery (attendees are reminded to come from the east, as the road from the west is currently blocked off). This will be followed by the service at the South Ferry Cemetery at 9:30 a.m., the Otto Township Cemetery Service at 10 a.m. and will conclude with a service at the pavilion by the river near downtown Ferry at 10:30 a.m. Participants and veterans no longer march at any location, and each service includes a gathering at each monument with a rifle salute and Taps. • 9:30 a.m. - The New Era Memorial Day Parade will begin at the New Era Christian School on Ray Street and proceed to the Veterans Park located at South First Street.
The parade will include veterans, community groups, the Shelby High School Marching Band, and the New Era Christian School band. A ceremony at the park will feature a special speaker and music. • 10 a.m. - The Mears Memorial Day Observance will take place at the Mears Cemetery, located at 6189 West Fox Road, Mears. Services will include music by the Hart High School band, a speaker and Veterans Ritual led by members of the Hart VFW. • 10 a.m. - The Pentwater Memorial Day Parade will begin on First Street, across from the Pentwater Baptist Church and proceed to the Village Municipal Marina, where a special ceremony will remember all those who have perished while at sea. The parade will make its way to the Village Green for a second short ceremony. A final observance will be held at the Pentwater Township Cemetery located at 8060 N. Business US-31. The Pentwater School Band will march in the parade and play at each location. • 10 a.m. - The Shelby Memorial Day Parade will begin at the corner of Sixth and Elm Streets and proceed down Michigan Avenue to Centennial Park at State and Third Streets. There, a ceremony will include a guest speaker and veteran Wes VanderWilk, music by the Shelby High School band and a Veterans Ritual performed by local Shelby veterans. Air Force veteran Kevin VanDyke has been selected as Officer of the Day. • 11 a.m. - The Hart Memorial Day Parade will begin at the Oceana County Courthouse, located at 100 S. State St. in Hart and proceed to the Hart Cemetery, where the Hart High School band will perform its traditional Military Anthem Melody, followed by a guest speaker, and Veterans Ritual led by members of the Hart VFW. • 2 p.m. - There will be a ceremony at both the Oceana County Medical Care Facility and Cherry Blossom Manor to honor the veterans there. The public is invited to attend. No matter which service you attend or if you choose to commemorate those who’ve fought for your freedoms privately, the words of veteran Darrell Hansen of Shelby should be our heartfelt prayer: “We remember the ones who have served and passed before us. Because of them, we can continue with our lives and freedoms. I feel very strongly about the ones who’ve served before me. I’m very honored to do what I can do at this stage of my life.” Did you know that each year on Memorial Day a national moment of remembrance takes place at 3 p.m.?
Brian Fessenden, Bill Tufts, Darrell Hansen and Larry Fessenden, above center, of the Gordon Bates American Legion Post #30 in Shelby, visited the veterans at the Oceana County Medical Care Facility in Hart, Friday, May 10 to present them with patriotic blankets crocheted by Janise Burmeister. Harold Schaner, above left, is thanked for his service by Tufts. Burmeister thanks Chuck Felt for his service, above right, as she handed him a blanket. • Amanda Dodge/Echo