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Posted on Sun, May 26, 2013 : 5:58 p.m.

Arborcrest holds 32nd annual Memorial Day Observance

By Chelsea Hoedl

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Arborcrest Memorial Park held its 32nd annual Memorial Day Observance on Sunday, providing the Ann Arbor area a reminder of the reason for the holiday weekend.

The ceremony began as three Boy Scout troops marched up to the podium to raise the flag while the estimated 100 people at the event stood for the Pledge of Allegiance.

A barbershop quartet sang the national anthem as the flag was lowered to half-mast in recognition of the lives lost defending our country.

Brian Marl, mayor of Saline, hosted the event. Congressman John D. Dingell, state Rep. David Rutledge, and Miss Washtenaw County Marissa Cowans spoke at the event.

Marl told the story of an Eastern Michigan University graduate who died while serving his country. His story is not unlike that of many other brave soldiers, but that doesn’t make his story any less special, Marl said. Marl spoke of the freedom that so many have died fighting for.

“There has never been in the history of the world a soldier more willing to sacrifice for the freedoms and liberties of complete strangers than that of the American soldier,” Marl said. “On this Memorial Day weekend and every day we should have the courage to stand with them.”

Each speaker emphasized Americans' freedom, which is owed to those who fought to defend it. Dingell expressed the importance in understanding why lives were lost.

“They did it for our freedom and for our liberty,” Dingell said. “They went also to protect the most wonderful democracy of mankind. Be proud of what they did.”

Rutledge echoed similar sentiments saying that Memorial Day is about freedom and hope. Keep the memories of those lost alive, he said.

The quartet performed renditions of ‘America the Beautiful’ and ‘My Country Tis of Thee’ as honor guards dressed in uniform marched out and stood at attention.

Boy Scouts performed the laying of the wreath ceremony and Marl made closing remarks, thanking veterans for their service and asking that the memory of those lost be honored this Memorial Day.

The honor guard gave a 21-gun salute followed by "Taps" played by a single trumpet to close the ceremony.

Chelsea Hoedl is an intern reporter for AnnArbor.com. She can be reached at choedl@mlive.com.

Comments

Alan Goldsmith

Mon, May 27, 2013 : 10:16 a.m.

Thanks to the Mayor of Saline for speaking, as well as Congressman Dingell and Representative Rutledge. Apparently my Mayor couldn't make it.

JBK

Mon, May 27, 2013 : 1:49 a.m.

As one might expect, the Liberal Left Wing Loon Ann Arbor readers are very quiet on this topic. They think freedom is free and has NO cost. :( One day when they grow up and achieve a certain measure of success they will look back on their college years and certainly POST college years (for local Ann Arborites) and maybe, just maybe realize that they live in the greatest country in the world and that the reason for that is that people have died for their freedom. I am not holding my breath on this (sadly).

dsponini

Wed, May 29, 2013 : 3:45 p.m.

Okay Sarah Hannity Limbaugh Beck, whatever you say must be gospel!

Sutro1

Mon, May 27, 2013 : 5:26 p.m.

Politics should just take a back seat. This is not the time to air our differences. If you don't like the area you live in. Move. If you don't like this country ... Leave.

jns131

Mon, May 27, 2013 : 1:18 p.m.

We do? I can name a lot of this things this country did to the Native Americans. Shall I continue? This was their country first. We shoved them out and told them to figure it out on a small parcel of land. Sorry but what Jackson did and all of our presidents did, does not make this a great country. A muslim once wrote after the bombing of Boston said and I quote, "we love the ideals of the US but we don't like them shoving it down our throats". A friend of mine lived over seas and was told not to show arrogance because that is a trait of an American. Interesting thought. Great to be a third world nation after this president is done with us.

montyman

Sun, May 26, 2013 : 10:48 p.m.

Hey can somebody fix the typo in the headline?

Paula Gardner

Mon, May 27, 2013 : 12:03 p.m.

Fixed, with apologies.

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