By Jim Measel
May 31, 2021 | 7:55 PM
COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) â After the COVID-19 pandemic forced a cancellation of many ceremonies in 2020, Branch County residents paused on Memorial Day to remember those who laid down their lives so that Americans can enjoy living in a free land.
A Memorial Day ceremony was held at the Four Corners Park in downtown Coldwater which was followed by a Veterans âHonor Rideâ in golf carts to the Coldwater American Legion Post 52.
The âGathering of Flags War Memorial Serviceâ was later held at the Oak Grove Cemetery. Judge David Coyle was the main speaker and he talked about the sacrifice American service members gave over the years for their country with many of them between the ages of 18 and 21.
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BERGENFIELD Two months ago, the borough s Memorial Day Parade remained a nebulous proposition, tied up in the uncertain future of the coronavirus pandemic.
But that didn t stop Bergenfield Mayor Arvin Amatorio from devising scenarios involving masks, no masks and various permutations of social distancing. We knew we could cancel it if we had to, Amatorio said. But the town also had to be ready for the best-case scenario: lovely weather and free-ranging people and politicians.
That s what Bergenfield got on Monday as hundreds turned out for the annual parade to honor U.S. veterans who died in service of their country. It fell just four days after Gov. Phil Murphy relaxed masking requirements for vaccinated residents across the state.
IRONTON â After a downsized version of its famed Memorial Day Parade took place last year, Ironton showed up for a more normal version of the annual event on Monday.
The Ironton-Lawrence Memorial Day Parade was held on Monday, with a bigger celebration than in 2020, when a much smaller version of the parade was held amid the coronavirus pandemic. No spectators were allowed at the event last year â it was, instead, live-streamed. While the pandemic is still happening, relaxed gathering restrictions and the availability of vaccines allowed a crowd to gather for the 2021 event.
Chris Donohue, who has lived in Ironton all his life, said he began volunteering with the parade as a child. His dad paid his membership dues for the parade committee and then Donohue went on to continue working with the parade in high school and as an adult. On Monday, he helped floats and groups get lined up for the procession.