“Today is not a celebration but a solemn day to reflect on veterans and military personnel who are deceased,” the pamphlet from the Alpena Veterans Council states.

The flower ceremony at the courthouse began with a short speech by Marine Ian Musto and the Pledge of Allegiance. Mike Warner, a member of the Marine Corps League Alpena Detachment and chaplain, offered the benediction. The Alpena High School choir small group of Zoe Davis, Faith Erard, Timothy Hoggard, Trinity Hosinski, Ethan Gilbertson, McKenzy McVannel, and Anna Noble, sang the National Anthem.

One by one, seven women were called to place a white rose at the base of the memorial dedicated to each war fought by American soldiers. Due to the absence of one of the women, Joyce Langerfeld placed the first two roses for the Civil War and the Spanish-American War.

“The white roses being placed on the memorial today represent purity of the veteran’s intentions, their innocence lost, and our remembrance of their sacrifice,” the pamphlet states.

News Photo by Reagan Voetberg Mike Warner performs “Taps” at the parade stop on Washington Avenue in honor of soldiers lost at sea.

Once all roses were laid from the Civil War to the war in Afghanistan and Iraq, Warner performed “Taps” and ended the ceremony by asking those gathered to say a silent prayer for fallen military personnel.

From the courthouse, a parade of veterans, motorcyclists, Boy Scouts, and Girl Scouts made their way down 9th Street to Washington Avenue to toss a wreath into the Thunder Bay River in honor of military personnel lost at sea.

A bell was rung eight times in keeping with the long-time maritime tradition of ringing eight bells to recognize the passing of a sailor.

Warner performed “Taps” again before the parade continued on its way to Little Flanders Field for the wreath-laying ceremony.

“The laying of wreaths at a memorial site is a ritual that occurs around the world, symbolizing the beauty and brevity of life,” the pamphlet states.

News Photo by Reagan Voetberg Don King and Heidi King laid the wreath for fallen soldiers from the global war on terrorism in Iraq and Afghanistan.

At the start of the wreath ceremony, Joe Demski, commander of the Disabled American Veterans Alpena chapter, thanked the City of Alpena, the DPW office, the Alpena Police Department, the Alpena Fire Department, and others for making the event possible.

Bob Young, a U.S. Army veteran and local business owner, was this year’s guest speaker. He read a poem at the end of his speech titled “The young dead soldiers do not speak” by Archibald MacLeish.

“They say: Whether our lives and our deaths were for peace and a new hope or for nothing we cannot say, it is you who must say this,” the last few lines of the poem read. “We leave you our deaths. Give them their meaning. We were young, they say. We have died; remember us.”

The wreaths were laid down by veterans for each war fought by Americans, as well as wreaths for Agent Orange, MIAs and POWs, and unknown soldiers.

The honor guard shot their rifles four times in honor of the soldiers. Warner performed “Taps” once more to conclude the day’s ceremony.

News Photo by Reagan Voetberg The honor guard shot their rifles four times in honor of the soldiers on Memorial Day.

News Photo by Reagan Voetberg A group of Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts held flags at the Memorial Day ceremonies on Monday.

News Photo by Reagan Voetberg Cheryl Ludwiczak laid a white rose for fallen soldiers.

News Photo by Reagan Voetberg Bob and Wayne Trapp lay a wreath for fallen soldiers.

News Photo by Reagan Voetberg Mike Warner closes Memorial Day ceremony with benediction.

News Photo by Reagan Voetberg A group of Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts held flags at the Memorial Day ceremonies on Monday.

News Photo by Reagan Voetberg Ian Musto speaks at an event on Memorial Day honoring fallen soldiers.

News Photo by Reagan Voetberg Dave Mott and Rebecca Mott lay a wreath for fallen soldiers.

News Photo by Reagan Voetberg Joyce Langerfeld laid a white rose for soldiers fallen in the Spanish-American War.

News Photo by Reagan Voetberg Flag bearers led the way to Little Flanders Field. A large American flag hung on the tower of a fire truck parked at the cemetery.

News Photo by Reagan Voetberg Dee White laid a white rose for fallen soldiers.

News Photo by Reagan Voetberg Tom Brown and Judi Brown lay a wreath during the Memorial Day Ceremony.

News Photo by Reagan Voetberg Joyce Hyka laid a white rose for fallen soldiers.

News Photo by Reagan Voetberg Veterans wave during the Memorial Day parade in Alpena.

News Photo by Reagan Voetberg Tom and Jean Keen lay a wreath for fallen soldiers.

News Photo by Reagan Voetberg Flag bearers led the way to Little Flanders Field. A large American flag hung on the tower of a fire truck parked at the cemetery.

News Photo by Reagan Voetberg A group of Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts walk in the Memorial Day parade on Monday morning.

News Photo by Reagan Voetberg Amanda Decker and Rick LaRoche lay a wreath during the Memorial Day Ceremony.