Holly's Memorial Day Parade Honors Memories, Celebrates Community

Holly’s Memorial Day Parade Honors Memories, Celebrates Community

(Liam Feeney, June 6, 2022)

Holly, MI – Holly continued its annual tradition of hosting a Memorial Day parade and as usual it was quite the community event.

The annual parade attracted those from all over Holly to honor the soldiers that had fallen in the line of duty to protect America. The parade is meant to not only honor these soldiers but bring the community together as well.

Two veterans groups in the area, The American Legion and the V.F.W. group, come together to put on the event for the community. Due to the pandemic the previous two years of the parade have been minimized and the ceremonies were scaled back. For the first time since the pandemic started they were able to hold the parade and all the activities that go along with it in full, something many throughout the community were very glad to see.

“It was nice to get out in front of the community again,” said Juan Villarreal, a local veteran, “we really missed it due to COVID. Seeing everyone out there was really nice to see” “I was really happy to participate again,” said Bob Dixon, who marched with other Veterans in the parade, “I haven’t been able to take part in a few years.”

While they are active parts of the community, lots of the typical fundraisers and other social events these two organizations host have been shuttered or downsized due to COVID-19 and the resulting shut downs. But the sense of community the parade inspires goes beyond just the veterans and adults in the community, reaching all the way to the younger generation taking part in the parade.

The parade included a wide variety of kids participating including the local Boy Scouts chapter, various floats with children throwing candy to the crowds, and of course who could forget the Holly Marching band. 4 “It was awesome to be able to play in the parade,” said one band member, “playing for the town is one of my favorite performances of the year.” The parade was capped off with a ceremony held at Lakeside Park honoring students of Holly High School for their academic achievement. The town gathered together to honor these students as they continued on to college with a variety of scholarships being handed out to them.