Memorial Day 2025 in Albion
From Parade to Riverside Ceremony
On Monday, May 26, 2025, the City of Albion gathered to honor fallen service members with a heartfelt Memorial Day celebration. The morning began with a parade down South Superior Street, continued with live music on the bridge and at the cemetery, and concluded at the Veterans Memorial Stage in Riverside Cemetery with speakers, a flag ceremony, and a rifle salute.
These photos capture the community’s tribute — from Scout troops and City Council members marching, to veterans raising flags, to the solemn gathering among the gravestones. The beauty of the day and the setting was also captured by aerial views from Kent Davis’s aerial photos and historic context provided by Albion historian Frank Passic.
Scroll through the images below for a full view of how Albion remembers.
Scouts and Veterans Walk in Albion Memorial Day Parade
City Council Members March in the Parade
Pictured here are Mayor Victoria Garcia Snyder, Andrew French (Mayor Pro Tem, Precinct 6), Lenn Reid (Precinct 2), Jim Stuart (Precinct 3), Vivian Davis (Precinct 5), and CJ Frost (Precinct 4, also representing the Sons of the American Legion).
Albion Mayor Victoria Garcia Snyder attended the ceremony and shared appreciation: “The City of Albion is grateful to the American Legion post for coordinating this annual event for our community. We have numerous families that rely on this event to honor their loved ones who have served our country through the Armed Forces. Their courage, sacrifice, and unwavering dedication to freedom will never be forgotten. We remember not only their heroism but also the families who carry their legacy in their hearts. This allows us to celebrate their memory with solemn pride and heartfelt appreciation.”
Boy Scouts Troop 158 and Cub Scout Pack 158
.In addition to their role in the procession, the Scouts helped raise and lower the flags during the cemetery ceremony and placed flags on veterans’ graves earlier in the month. Their service was a meaningful contribution to the solemnity and honor of the day. The scouts are selling geraniums in late Spring and have other fundraisers. Visit them on Facebook by clicking here.
American Legion Leads the Way with Classic Tribute Behind
Vocalists Perform from the Bridge as Parade Crosses
The solemn walk over the bridge on the Kalamazoo River toward the cemetery was marked by American flags waving in the breeze. A ceremonial gun salute was conducted at the bridge, accompanied by the tossing of a wreath into the river, which added to the emotional weight of the morning.
During the wreath ceremony on the bridge, a vocal group performed the Navy hymn Eternal Father, Strong to Save, which echoed over the Kalamazoo River as the wreath was gently placed in the water. The vocalists included River Barrett, Steve Barrett, Karen Kidder-Barrett, Kelly Kidder, and Mark Messer. Their performance added emotional depth to the ceremony, honoring the maritime tradition of remembering those who have been lost at sea. Prior to the hymn, a series of Armed Forces anthems was played with vocal accompaniment, including The Army Goes Rolling Along, Anchors Aweigh, The Marines’ Hymn (From the Halls of Montezuma), and The U.S. Air Force Song (Off We Go Into the Wild Blue Yonder). The crowd saluted or placed hands on their hearts as each song was played, recognizing the branches of military service.
Honor Guard and City Police Lead Parade Toward the Ceremony
The Honor Guard from American Legion Post 55, joined by a city officer escort, made their way down the final stretch of the route toward Riverside Cemetery. Flags rippled in the breeze above the Kalamazoo River as the procession crossed the bridge — a symbolic passage between Albion’s active community and its enduring memory.
Arrival at Riverside Cemetery — Flags and Community by the River
As the parade procession reached Riverside Cemetery, attendees gathered beneath the waving flags of the U.S. Armed Forces. Classic cars parked alongside modern vehicles, veterans stood ready, and children from the Scout troops joined in placing flags and preparing for the ceremony. The peaceful backdrop of the Kalamazoo River reminded everyone of the natural beauty that surrounds this sacred space of remembrance.
Marshall High School Band Performs near the Veteran’s Memorial Stage
The Marshall High School Band performed a stirring selection of patriotic music at the Veteran’s Memorial Stage in Riverside Cemetery. Their presence was especially meaningful to Albion, as many Albion students now attend school in Marshall. Their red shirts stood out against the green hillside, as they performed military service songs and solemn music befitting the occasion.
Learn more about the Marshall High School band on their Facebook page by clicking here.
River Barrett gave a powerful solo performance of The Star-Spangled Banner, prompting the audience to rise, many with hands over their hearts, saluting or saving their little flags. Earlier in the program, the Marshall High School band provided musical selections that added dignity and warmth to the ceremony. The solemn gun salute and flag-raising concluded the formal program.
Event organizer Al Smith, Commander, American Legion Patrick Leo Hanlon Post 55, later expressed his gratitude to the Scouts and the Marshall High School band for their strong support and participation.
Dr. Moses Muzquiz Honored for Years of Service to Veterans
A formal ceremony took place at the Veterans Memorial Stage, led by Charles “Chuck” Savage of the American Legion Patrick Leo Hanlon Post 55, who served as Master of Ceremonies. He guided the program with poise and respect, offering heartfelt commentary and recognizing key participants. One of the most touching moments came when he commended Dr. Moses Muzquiz, a longtime member and supporter of Albion’s veterans’ community, for his decades of service. The keynote speaker offered stories of heroism of fallen veterans.
A View from the Hill as the Ceremony Starts
Community members stood, sat, and knelt on the grassy hill near the Veterans Memorial Stage, listening as the ceremony began. Flags from every military branch surrounded the platform, and a patriotic banner framed the speakers. Some in attendance had family names engraved on nearby stones, while others were there simply to show respect.
The Flag is Raised by Honor Guard and Scout Support
An Honor Guard from American Legion Post 55, with support from local Scouts, performed the ceremonial raising of the American flag. Attendees stood with hands over hearts as the flag lifted above the crowd, followed by the playing of Taps. The moment echoed Albion’s tradition of remembering the fallen with solemn dignity each year.
Sam Porter, the parade organizer and Scout leader, added, “Scouts BSA Troop 158 and Cub Scout Pack 158, both from Albion raised and lowered the flag and marched in the parade. They also participated in decorating the Veterans Graves with flags earlier this month.”
G.A.R. Graves and Monument – Albion’s First Decoration Day Legacy
The G.A.R. section of Riverside Cemetery remains a solemn cornerstone of Albion’s Memorial Day observance. This photo shows the Civil War gravesites adorned with flags by Scouts and community volunteers. The G.A.R. monument honors Union veterans, while the larger stone in the background stands in tribute to the sacrifices of earlier generations. According to historian Frank Passic, Albion’s first Decoration Day was held in 1882 — even before the local G.A.R. post was established — and ceremonies were once centered around this very spot.
The ceremony ended near the Civil War Veterans’ section of the cemetery, where many graves are over a century old. This is where Albion’s Decoration Day events were originally held.
As local historian Frank Passic noted in his article in the May 23 edition of The Recorder and the Morning Star, Albion’s first Decoration Day was not held by the G.A.R., but rather by the Knights Templar in 1882 — a year before the local G.A.R. post was formed. He shared an account from the Albion Republican newspaper describing the first ceremony, which featured a parade, flower girls, and more than 1,000 people returning from the cemetery. Albion was ahead of the nation in its observance of this tradition, which later became known nationally as Memorial Day.
Veteran’s Memorial Stage and Flag Plaza from Above
An overhead view captures the Veterans Memorial Stage, the surrounding flag plaza, and the families lingering afterward to reflect. The colored stone near the stage form a symbolic flag near where speeches, salutes, and songs took place earlier that morning. This broad perspective underscores the community’s shared space for honor, memory, and civic pride.
Aerial View of the Parade Route and Kalamazoo River
This breathtaking aerial photo by Kent Davis shows the Memorial Day parade route winding south along the Kalamazoo River near Riverside Cemetery. The peaceful waterway and tree-lined road provided a tranquil backdrop to a powerful community tradition. The curve of the river has carried generations of Albion families and veterans to this final resting place and sacred gathering site.
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For historical context, read Frank Passic’s article on Albion’s first Decoration Day (1882) in the May 23, 2025 edition of The Recorder or The Morning Star.
📍 You can also view the Riverside Cemetery Tour and Map, created in 1990 by Maggie LaNoue, which highlights many of the historical gravesites and monuments featured during the ceremony.
The American Legion Post 55 Albion organized the Memorial Day Parade event and has family fun fundraisers throughout the year. These include Pancake Brunches on the last Sunday of the Month, and a pig roast before the Fireworks each year on July 3. Visit them on their Facebook page to confirm the times by clicking here.
Watch a video of the 2025 Albion Memorial Day parade and ceremony, including segments of the moving speech by keynote speaker Ensign Andrew Klein, Naval Reserve Supply Corps.
One of Albion’s First Decoration Day Parades
Click on the photo above to learn more about Albion’s First Decoration Day.