COPEMISH — Twelve times Monday the members of American Legion Reed Osborne Post 531 will salute their fallen comrades.
They will listen to the reading of the World War I rondeau poem “In Flanders Fields,” which was written by Canadian physician Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae.
They will stand at attention — some with their hands over their hearts, while others will hold their right hands tight against their eyebrows in a saluting fashion — as they listen to the strains of “Taps” being played, a haunting and heartbreaking ceremonial bugle call that’s also known as “Butterfield’s Lullaby,” and by first line of the poem, “Day Is Done.”
And they will stand within earshot of a ritual rifle team, the latter of which will fire a volley of three shots to echo over the graves of their fallen comrades — a longstanding Memorial Day ritual that was set aside for mourning American military personnel who died while serving in the Armed Forces. (The first national observance of what would become Memorial Day occurred on May 30, 1868, and was then known as Decoration Day.)
Beginning with a flag-raising ceremony at their own post at 7:45 a.m. Monday morning — Memorial Day — members, who all year long celebrate their stated mission to “implement the goals, aspirations, dreams, peace and blessings for our country, friends and families,” will then carpool to 11 surrounding communities and cemeteries to conduct their special services.
Following the flag raising, members will move on to perform Memorial Day services at 8:15 a.m. at Nessen City cemetery; at 8:30 a.m. at Nessen City Catholic on Lindy Road; at 9 a.m.at Grant Township Cemetery on Zue Road near Buckley; at 9:30 a.m. at Cornell Cemetery on Four Road, also near Buckley; at 10 a.m. at Minar Cemetery on 16 Road near Mesick; at 10:30 a.m. at Marilla Township Cemetery on Erwin Road; all before returning to their post for a short break at 10:45 a.m.; and then continuing on with their memorial services at 11:15 a.m. at the Springdale Township Cemetery; at 11:45 a.m. at Pleasanton Township Cemetery on US 31; at 12:15 p.m. at the Thompsonville Cemetery; at12:45 p.m. at the Cleon Township Cemetery on Faylor Road; and ending at 1 p.m. at the Cleon Township Cemetery on Rice Road.
A grueling schedule? No way. If you ask the members of Post 531, it’s gratifying.
And while many communities throughout America observe Memorial Day in similar time-honored fashion, American Legion Post 531 of Copemish does so again, and again, and again.
“We do it every year for the veterans from our area,” said Post Commander Bill Dunham, who served with U.S. Army Green Berets, 1969-72.
“It’s very important to our post that we carry on. Our post was founded in 1948 and we’ve carried this on, we’ve carried this forward for 75 years.
“For all our different communities — for their cemeteries — it’s important to the people of those areas. They turn out in big numbers on Memorial Day when we do the services. It’s so important to each one of those communities and they always really look forward to when we get to each, each Memorial Day, and pay our respects. I think it’s important to everyone that we do get involved and pay our respects, every year.”
Michelle Guerra, a member of Post 531’s Auxiliary, said members take seriously the reasons Memorial Day remains so tightly woven into the American fabric — to honor those “who gave the ultimate sacrifice.”
“Memorial Day is to honor our service members — men and women service members — who gave their lives to serve our country and protect all that we hold dear,” she said. “They gave the ultimate sacrifice. We should never forget what sacrifice that was. What they gave will always be honored and cherished.
“Members have done several of the cemeteries for several years and they’ve been asked to add a couple more cemeteries. The whole troop goes. We do have some friends who also participate, and we have the Auxiliary members who participate.”
American Legion Post 531 and Sons of the Legion Squadron 531 meet the second Wednesday of each month, while the Auxiliary meets the first Tuesday of every month. The post is located at 18483 Cadillac Highway in Copemish.
The Sons of The American Legion (SAL), which also participates in Memorial Day services, is a nonprofit organization of male descendants of men or women who served in the U.S. Armed Forces during World War I, or since Dec. 7, 1941.
“The Legion’s been very active in the community,” said Guerra. “Past members worked hard to make it a very active and vital post, serving its community. Members are asked to do funerals throughout the year and (to serve as an) Honor Guard in the community throughout the year.”
Copemish is a village located in the northeastern reaches of Manistee County and had a reported 2020 census of 195. Four counties — Manistee, Grand Traverse, Wexford and Benzie — intersect in its shadows.
Observances
around the region Saturday, May 23
11 a.m. The Laying of the Lilacs, Benzonia Township Cemetery
Sunday, May 24
1:30 p.m. Coldsprings Township Cemetery 2 p.m. Excelsior Township Cemetery 3 p.m. Oliver Township Cemetery
Monday, May 25:
9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Open Space, Traverse City, Veterans for Peace 9 a.m. Mancelona’s annual Memorial Day parade, downtown 10 a.m. Veteran’s Memorial on the Government Center Campus, Suttons Bay 10 a.m. 7475 E. Duck Lake Road in Lake Leelanau 10 a.m. Veterans Park in the Village of Grand Traverse Commons 10:45 a.m. East Jordan Memorial Parade, downtown 11 a.m. Buckley Memorial Day Parade, downtown 11 a.m. Veteran’s Memorial on Cedar Street, Kalkaska 11 a.m. Veterans Memorial Park in Elk Rapids 12 p.m. Evergreen Cemetery, Kalkaska 12:15 p.m. Thompsonville Cemetery 1 p.m. Alden’s Patriotic Military Parade, downtown