By Staff
To the editor:
The Masons of Dowagiac were again honored to be able to host the Memorial Day parade. We do, however, owe a great debt of gratitude to the many people who helped us along the way.
We first must thank our veterans organizations and city officials for again trusting us with this task. We also thank our fire, police, and public works daepartments for all they do to prepare for this and all events downtown. Southwestern Michigan College and the Downtown Development Authority supplied our sound systems at City Hall and Riverside Cemetery.
We also owe a big thank you to Heartland Chrysler, which generously supplied vehicles to transport our veterans and guests.
Our morning included an Air National Guard fly-by saluting our veterans. The ceremonies at City Hall opened with the invocation by Pastor Earnie Riggs of the Harvest Assembly of God and Brad Yazel as our Master of Ceremonies. This year we were honored to have Sheriff Joseph Underwood as our featured speaker. The youth of Dowagiac added their talents to the ceremony with the participation of the junior and senior bands.
No parade is complete without marchers in the street and an audience on the curb.
Thank you for being there.
Free and Accepted Masons