In and around Leelanau for Memorial Weekend

Memorial Weekend marks the unofficial first day of summer in northern Michigan. The next few months will be a whirlwind of festivals, barbecues, beaches, boating, or whatever your favorite summer activity may be. Start the summer off right, by attending one of the Memorial Day celebrations.

Monday at 9:30am, Leelanau County’s official Memorial Day observance will be held at the site of the county’s new Veteran’s Memorial plaza on the Grovernment Center Drive. County Commissioner Richard A. Schmuckal, a former sergeant in the U.S. Army, will be emcee and former Army captain and Vietnam combat veteran Dave Alguire of Leelanau County, a member of the Eagletown American Legion Post No. 120 of Peshawbestown, will be the keynote speaker. The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 7731 of Lake Leelanau and Eagletown post members will provide a color guard and honor guard for the ceremony.

Also Monday, at 10:30am Northport will hold their annual Memorial Day observance at the Leelanau Township Cemetery on Kitchen Road. George Anderson, will once again be the master of ceremonies for the Leelanau Township observance, which will focus on the War of 1812. The keynote speaker is Jerry Dennis. The ceremony will include patriotic music by the Village Voices and Northport Community Band. The Northport Girl Scout and Brownie troops, as well as the Suttons Bay Boy Scout troop, will also participate in the ceremony. Veterans whose lives were or are a part of the township will be recognized in the Armed Forces salute.

A few years ago, Absolute Michigan, featured the Michigan’s First Memorial Day. Read about many of our Michigan communities celebrated, after Major General John A. Logan, head of the postwar Union veterans’ group called the Grand Army of the Republic, declared that on May 30, “the choicest flowers of springtime” should be placed on the graves of Union soldiers and sailors who had saved the Union and ended slavery.

Other events happening this weekend include the Northport Car’s in the Park and the annual Memorial Weekend Plant Sales in Cedar and Leland.

The weather forecast shows a beautiful sunny weekend, with temps in the 70s. So even if you are just picnicking in the park or chilling at the beach, we wish you a fun,happy, and safe Memorial Weekend. Enjoy!

As, I was looking for a picture for this post, I found this one of the Cove in Leland. I was reminded of another annual Memorial Day event in Leelanau, The Here Come’s the Sun Party at the Cove. Don’t miss the excitement at this day full of fun, sun, and music!

Photo: Take a Seat…outside The Cove… by KT of Lake Orion