OSCEOLA COUNTY – Communities around Mecosta and Osceola counties honor our nation’s fallen military service men and women, veterans and those still serving in America’s armed forces during Memorial Day observances.
Osceola County
- Marion Memorial Day Parade
Marion’s Memorial Day Parade will start at 9:30 a.m. at the VFW Hall, marching down Main Street to the Veterans’ Monument downtown. There are several ceremonial events planned, including readings of fallen service members’ names and Memorial Day history, songs, a moment of silence and a gun salute.
- Reed City Memorial Day Parade
Starting at 9 a.m. at the Reed City Depot on Chestnut Street, the parade will march down Upton Avenue to the courthouse for a ceremony to honor military veterans and service members before continuing on to the Woodland Cemetery.
- Evart Memorial Day Weekend
Evart’s Chamber of Commerce will host the annual Flea Market from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, May 27, and Saturday, May 28, at the Evart Municipal Airport. The Memorial Day parade will begin at 10 a.m. Monday, May 30, at Guyton Park, and will proceed to Joseph Guyton Bridge, where a wreath will be released into the Muskegon River. The parade will end at Forest Hills Cemetery.
Mecosta County
- Morley Memorial Day Parade
Starting at 9:30 a.m. on Cass Street in downtown Morley, veterans from Morley’s American Legion marching in the Memorial Day Parade will make their way to Jefferson Road, where they’ll march to the Aetna Township Cemetery. At the cemetery, the veterans will honor the fallen men and women who served with a prayer service and a gun salute.
- Memorial Day Breakfast and Chicken Barbeque
The Big Rapids AMVETS Ladies Auxiliary will host a Memorial Day breakfast for a donation from 9 a.m. until noon at the post on Chippewa Lake Road. After breakfast, the AMVETS post will barbeque chicken from noon until the chicken is gone. Included in the barbeque will be a raffle to benefit the post, with prizes including a patio table and chairs, a handcrafted cutting board and a grill.
- Big Rapids Memorial Day Parade
The Memorial Day Parade in Big Rapids starts at 10 a.m. at the courthouse on Elm Street with the , making a stop at Mitchell Creek Park, where members of the Big Rapids AMVETS will release a wreath into the water to honor the Navy. After the wreath ceremony, the parade continues to Highland View Cemetery.
- Barryton Memorial Day Parade
The Memorial Day Parade starts at 11 a.m. at the Barryton American Legion Post at 147 Northern Avenue. Ceremonies begin at the Legion post and include a benediction from the Legion chaplain Leonard “Bud” Hanline, and end with honors and taps led by the post commander, Paul MacKersie.
