News photo by Josh Jambor Pictured is Little Flanders Field, a veteran memorial in Alpena that features rows of white crosses honoring military service members who died in combat. This Memorial Day weekend residents and visitors will gather at this special memorial site to honor those who paid the ultimate price for our freedom.

ALPENA – Memorial Day weekend is here in Northern Michigan and local families will gather not just to welcome summer but to pause and remember the brave men and women from our community who made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation.

Memorial Day honors U.S. service members who died while serving in the military. It is a day of solemn remembrance, rooted in the years following the Civil War when communities began decorating the graves of fallen soldiers, originally called Decoration Day. It became a federal holiday in 1971, set on the last Monday in May.

Traditions include flying the American flag at half-staff from sunrise to noon, visiting cemeteries and attending ceremonies with rifle salutes, and wreath-layings. At 3 p.m. local time, many observe a National Moment of Remembrance.

Memorial Day specifically remembers those who died in service. Whereas Veterans Day (Nov. 11) honors all who have served, living or deceased, thanking them for their contributions. In Alpena, this distinction matters deeply, as many local families have personal connections to the names honored at Little Flanders Field.

A local Vietnam veteran, Terry Kunst, is a member of the Forgotten Eagles, a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness for Prisoners of War and Missing in Action service members, while providing financial assistance to disabled veterans and veterans in need.

Kunst said that Memorial Day is a day to honor the veterans we’ve lost.

“It’s a time when we can honor those who gave the ultimate price of their lives on our battlefields. That’s what Memorial Day is to me,” Kunst said. “I especially honor the life of my brother Gene who gave his life in Vietnam in 1968, and all the Gold Star Families who also sacrificed.”

The motorcycle-based veterans’ group usually passes through Alpena every summer. The ride serves to honor local veterans, visit area memorials, raise awareness, and collect donations for the Michigan Veterans Trust Fund.

Stanley Wahoski, a local United States Navy Veteran who spent 10 years serving his country said Memorial Day is a significant holiday.

“Memorial Day has great importance to the friends and families of the fallen men and women,” he said.

Alpena’s ceremonies focus on reflection and gratitude for our area’s fallen. Events typically begin at 9:30 a.m. at the Alpena County Courthouse with flower placements, remarks, and a program led by local veterans’ representatives.

The gathering then moves to Little Flanders Field, located at Evergreen Cemetery in Alpena, for an 11 a.m. ceremony. This sacred site features white crosses honoring Alpena-area service members lost in combat across wars. Wreaths will be laid by veterans of multiple conflicts, a rifle salute, the playing of Taps, and a closing prayer. A wreath is often placed in the Thunder Bay River to remember those lost at sea.

Beyond the ceremonies, the weekend brings the usual kickoff to summer. Northeast Michigan residents and visitors will participate in boating and fishing on Lake Huron and the Thunder Bay River. Some will visit local parks and beaches and others will spend time with family and friends. Many local businesses and government offices will be closed on Monday, and there will be no Monday edition of The Alpena News.

This Memorial Day, whether you attend a service at the courthouse and Little Flanders Field, place flowers at a gravesite, or simply take a quiet moment, Alpena comes together to honor the price paid by our neighbors and loved ones. Their sacrifice ensures the liberties we enjoy in our tight-knit Northeast Michigan community.

Josh Jambor can be reached at jjambor@thealpenanews.com.