Other Seriousness
Memorial Day 2012
Today is Memorial Day.
Remember.
(Photos from Chelsea’s Memorial Day ceremonies in 2009, 2010, and 2011.)
Photo of the Veterans Day Now: 11 November 2011
Chelsea held a Veterans Day ceremony at the city’s veterans memorial. The event attracted a great crowd of veterans.
See those veterans kneeling in the front row? Those are the World War II veterans.
A group of students from South School — South Meadows Elementary for you newcomers who don’t know any better — walked down to the park to sing a couple songs for the crowd.
Chelsea mayor Jason Lindauer introduced the speaker.
The speaker was Col. James Coolican.
Coolican served 28 years in the U.S. Marine Corps; his assignments included: Brigade Chief of Staff Advisor to the South Vietnamese Army; Company Commander, Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C.; U.S. Naval Academy Faculty; Chief of Staff, Plans and Operations Division-NATO HQ, Italy; Director Marine Corps Doctrine Center; and Chief of Staff, Marine Corps Forces, Europe.
His personal awards include the Navy Cross; Legion of Merit; Navy-Marine Corps Medal; Bronze Star with Combat Distinguishing Device; Purple Heart; Defense Meritorious Service Medal; Combat Action Ribbon; Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry; and Vietnamese Honor Medal.
Col. Coolican started out by talking to the kids.
He then spoke to the crowd as a whole. His speech wasn’t short, but it was worth every second.
When the ceremony was finished, the students thanked the veterans for their service.
Afterwards, the veterans headed to the conference center at the Comfort Inn to watch the Chelsea library’s documentary detailing the experiences of local World War II veterans.
Before the documentary, Jeremy Ziegler gave the Toast for the Fallen.
Veterans Day 2011
Today, the city of Chelsea held a Veterans Day ceremony at the local veterans memorial. The memorial was dedicated two and a half years ago, but — as I’m embarrassed to admit — up until a few weeks ago I didn’t realize it existed. On a clear day last week I visited the memorial to get a few photos.
(I’ll post photos of the ceremony on another day.)
Photo of the Now, vol 220: in memory of Lt. Joel Gentz
Two weeks ago, Air Force 1st Lt. Joel Gentz, a graduate of Chelsea High School, was killed in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan. Yesterday, his funeral procession brought Main Street to a halt as grateful Chelsea residents stopped to pay their respects to a man who died in service to his country.
The rock in Pierce Park received an appropriate paint job.
Businesses around town expressed their gratitude, too.
Photo of the Now, vol. 219: Memorial Day
Monday was Memorial Day, which was yet again accompanied by one of my favorite local events: Chelsea’s Memorial Day parade and ceremony. Attendance was excellent, as it has been for the past few years.
First, the parade:
And then the ceremony, held in Oak Grove Cemetery:
Retired Lt. Col. Harry Hawkins addressed the crowd.
Photo of the Now, vol. 185: Memorial Day Edition
On Monday, Chelsea held its annual Memorial Day parade and ceremony to honor those who have died in service to their country. The morning included a flyover by two A-10 Warthogs out of Selfridge.
In this photo you can see the shell being ejected from the gun; however, what you can’t see is the shell flying towards me and hitting me in the head. Who says photography isn’t dangerous?
(Full gallery.)
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