Michigan Veterans Homes GR’s Memorial Day includes private ceremony but public display of 5,000 flags

Local Boy and Girl scout troops and volunteers recently planted more than 5,000 flags at the “gravesites of fallen heroes” at the local veterans cemetery adjacent to the Michigan Veterans Homes at Grand Rapids. (Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs)

By K.D. Norris

Due to ongoing pandemic precautions at the Michigan Veteran Homes at Grand Rapids, a planned Memorial Day tribute to America’s fallen heroes will be an invite-only event with a large turnout from the home’s members and their families.

The flags in front of the Michigan Veterans Homes at Grand Rapids. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)

But the public can pay their respect with a walk around the veterans cemetery, now honoring veterans with small flags on the thousands of headstones, an effort made possible by the effort of local Boy and Girls scout organizations and well as other volunteers.

The Michigan Veteran Homes at Grand Rapids (MVHGR), previously known as the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans, is located at 3000 Monroe Avenue, NE.The cemetery is adjacent to the veterans facility.

The state veterans cemetery was dedicated on May 31, 1886, 135 years ago this May, and hosts the graves of veterans dating back to the Civil War. according to supplied material. Formed in the shape of a Maltese cross, initially the cemetery was plotted for 262 graves with room for 1,048 but has grown to more than 5,000 gravesites today. The cemetery is open for visitation this weekend and visitors can access the cemetery through the main entrance on Lamberton Street NE.

Honoring veterans with flags of remembrance

The Michigan Veteran Homes, a branch of the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, recently received assistance from local scout troops and volunteers to plant more than 5,000 flags at the “gravesites of fallen heroes” at the local veterans cemetery adjacent to the MVHGR.

Local Girls Scouts are also involved in the annual flag-planting effort. (Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs)

While family, residents, staff and community members have been placing flags individually over the years, the massive volunteer effort to blanket the cemetery with flags began more than 30 years ago. Bob Porter, a former financial management supervisor for the local facility who helped formalize the effort in 1991, said it began with a promise of a soda, according to supplied material.

“Al Hulsapple and Bill Gerber, who were members of the Home and volunteer scouts, would enlist the help of 10-20 scouts to plant flags in the cemetery,” Porter, who himself was involved as a scout leader for Boy Scout Troop 230 in Grand Rapids, said in supplied material. “It would take the scouts a few hours to blanket the cemetery and Al and Bill would toss them a soda at the end of the day and say come back again next year.”

While the effort began with the Boy Scouts, the Girl Scouts have become involved in recent years as well.

“The Girl Scouts appreciate the opportunity to join the legacy flag-planting event at Michigan Veteran Homes at Grand Rapids,” Krystan Krucki, director of marketing and communications for The Girl Scouts of Michigan Shore to Shore, said in supplied material. “It really does help inspire girls of all ages to honor veterans, honor our troops and find their own way to recognize the sacrifices that have been made by these individuals for our country.”

The placement of each flag includes a recognition of the veteran. (Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs)

Scouts are given instructions on how to properly honor the veterans buried at the cemetery. The process begins with a scout placing a flag to the left of the headstone, followed by reciting the veterans name and rendering a salute. Flags are delivered each year by the United Veterans Council of Kent County with special care taken to replace any flags that are torn or tattered.

“The City of Grand Rapids and its employees have been instrumental in raising funds to supply flags annually to make sure an American flag is placed at every veterans headstone within the city limits for Memorial Day,” Eric Nelson, a Navy veteran and commander of the United Veterans Council of Kent County, said in supplied material. “Each year we replace on average, 3,500 worn or tattered flags at the cemetery at Michigan Veteran Homes at Grand Rapids.”

While this year’s effort lacked elements of years past, the home hopes to return to celebrating the contributions by the scouts and local community in 2022.

“We’ve had anywhere from 500-800 scouts join us in the past,” Tiffany Carr, director of relations for the Michigan Veteran Homes at Grand Rapids, said in supplied material. “Even with restrictions and concerns related to COVID-19, all 5,000 plus flags were planted by the afternoon on May 20 as planned to honor our fallen veterans.”

Kentwood chaplain part of private ceremony

The Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, and Michigan Veteran Homes, Memorial Day event will include remarks by U.S. Army Brigadier General Scott Hiipakka, assistant adjutant general of the Michigan Army National Guard; Theresa Robinson, past commander of the United Veterans Council of Kent County; Bruce Johnson, DAV representative; Bruce Kalish, chaplain of the MVHGR; and Father Peter Vu, chaplain of the MVHGR and pastor of Saint Mary Magdalen Parish in Kentwood.

The ceremony will include a posting of the colors led by the MVHGR Member Color Guard, a rifle salute and Taps led by the Kent County Veterans Honor Guard and music by the Belmont Armory 126 Army Band and soloist Valerie Holstege.