The City of Zeeland will recognize veterans for the sacrifices they made while serving our country with its  annual Memorial Day events on Monday, May 29th.  

The Memorial Day Parade will start at 9:00 a.m. on Main Avenue in front of Cityside Middle  School. The procession will go West on Main, will turn South on State Street, and will then turn East on  Central Avenue. The parade route will end at Central Avenue and Maple Street. Parade participants will  include the Gilbert D. Karsten Legion Post color guard and drill team, veterans, local school bands, floats  and schoolchildren.  

Veterans are asked to join the parade so that the community can offer a special salute for their  service. Arrival time for veterans will be between 8:30 a.m. and 8:50 a.m. Veterans, please meet at the  corner of Centennial and Main so that we can organize marching by your time in service.  

A Memorial Service will be held at the Zeeland Cemetery on Lincoln Avenue immediately after  the parade. Veterans, please gather on Church Street near Lincoln Avenue after the parade for the  procession into the Zeeland Cemetery. (Chairs will be available for veterans during the Memorial Day  Service.) 

Veterans, family members and the public are encouraged to attend the Memorial Day Service so  as to remember those who served in the armed forces from wars and conflicts from the United States  Civil War to the present time. During the Memorial Day Service, flags will be placed on the graves of  veterans by members of our local scout troops. 

Serving as Officer of the Day will be U.S. Navy veteran, Ken Jipping. The singing of our National  Anthem will be led by the Zeeland High School Band under the direction of Mr. Pujan Bhattarai. Pastor  Shawn Gerbers from the First Christian Reformed Church of Zeeland will offer the Memorial Day Prayer.  U.S. Army veteran Jim Donkersloot will read the roll of veterans who are buried in the Zeeland  Cemetery, in national cemeteries or overseas. He will also deliver the Memorial Day Address.  

A Memorial Day wreath will be laid by U.S. Army Veteran Carl Van Ingen in honor of fallen  service men and service women. Following the presentation of the wreath, the Gilbert D. Karsten Drill 

Squad will fire a gun salute to honor our fallen comrades and taps will be played. The ceremony will  conclude with the singing of “God Bless America”.  

If it rains, only the parade will be cancelled. If the parade is cancelled, the Memorial Day Service  will be held at 9:30 a.m. at the First Reformed Church which is located on the corner of Cherry Avenue  and Church Street in downtown Zeeland.  

Anyone who needs further information about the day’s events may contact Parade Marshall Lynette Lam at (616) 301-5041) or zeelandfestivalsinc@gmail.com or Deputy Parade Marshall Jim  Donkersloot at (616) 772-1943 (Home) or (616) 772-9000 (Office).