By Staff
All those who have left this world before us remind us of our humanity. No one lives forever.
Memorial Day is set aside to remember our dead.
The actions of our brothers and sisters, parents and grandparents, and even great-grandparents, have helped set us free.
All of our communities have set aside a time to honor our war dead and to decorate their graves.
Dowagiac's Memorial Day parade on Monday will open at City Hall at 10:30 a.m. with Dave Groner as master of ceremonies.
Paul Thomas, Grand Chaplain of the Grand Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons of Michigan, will deliver the invocation.
The officers of VFW Post 1855 and American Legion Post 536 will conduct the memorial service with the Dowagiac marching bands providing music.
Aviation artist Rick Herter, formerly of Indian Lake, will present the Memorial Day message. An Air Force fly-over is anticipated during the opening ceremonies.
The parade will begin at 11 a.m. with a brief stop at the bridge on Riverside Drive for a memorial service honoring Navy and Coast Guard veterans.
The parade will conclude at Riverside Cemetery with the Veterans' Memorial Service.
The Kalamazoo Bagpipe Band and the Chieftain Marching Band will provide music.
In Niles, a special ceremony will be held at the new Veteran's Memorial in Riverfront Park on Sunday, May 29, at 2 p.m.
Former Niles Township Police Chief John Street, who is a Vietnam veteran, will be guest speaker.
Earlier that day there will be services at Mission Hills at 11 a.m.
An additional service will be held at Calvary Cemetery in Niles on Monday, May 30, at 9 a.m.
Parades on Monday of those who serve our residents, not only in the military, but also as firefighters and police will also be a part of the observances.
In Niles the parade will begin at 10 a.m. Participants in the parade should meet to line up at 9:15 a.m. at W. Main and State streets, by the YMCA.
The parade will begin at 10 a.m. at Main Street and proceed to Silverbrook Cemetery, where services will be held at 11 a.m.
In Cassopolis, veterans will lead the parade beginning at 10 a.m.
Area youth are encouraged to decorate their bikes in patriotic colors and join the parade, with awards for the best bikes following the parade.
In Edwardsburg, the annual parade will begin at 11 a.m.
A ceremony will be held at the American Legion Post and the local cemetery following the parade.
Then the town celebrates with crafts, food booths and entertainment, including the battle of the bands for a day of community fun at the park by the Edwardsburg Library.
Join your family and friends in your community and participate this Memorial Day to remember and honor those who went before.