Holland Memorial Day parade canceled again due to coronavirus pandemic
HOLLAND The annual Memorial Day parade in the city of Holland will not take place for the second consecutive year, as organizers cite concerns about public gatherings during the coronavirus pandemic.
Instead, the traditional ceremony will take place without a parade at Pilgrim Home Cemetery at 11 a.m. on Memorial Day, Monday, May 31. Organizers said in a news release COVID-19 safety standards will be organized.
“We did not make the decision to cancel the parade lightly, said Ren Mireles, Holland Memorial Day Parade committee chair, in a statement. But with the uncertainty of the times, we are still not confident that it will be safe to promote a parade. The age of many of the veterans and others who participate in this annual parade puts them squarely in the higher risk category for COVID-19.”
Death of Grand Rapids Chicks player may have marked the end of an era
Joyce Hill Westerman played for the inaugural Grand Rapids Chicks team in 1945, and she may have been the last surviving player from that year s team. Author: Matt Gard Updated: 1:44 PM EST January 30, 2021
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich When it comes to Grand Rapids sports legends, Joyce Hill Westerman may not be the first name that comes to mind. After all, her only season with the Grand Rapids Chicks was her rookie year, a year in which she only had 18 at bats over nine games.
But the 1945 season Westerman spent in Grand Rapids was historic for the city. The Chicks franchise had just moved from Milwaukee, where the team struggled to compete for fans with the Brewers, which at the time was a minor league franchise.