March to Post Cemetery Honors 140-Year-Old Tradition

This story first appeared in the June 2, 2023, Mackinac Island Town Crier print edition

Memorial Day, formerly known as Decoration Day, has been celebrated on Mackinac Island for 140 years, and that tradition continued Monday, May 29, with the march from Fort Mackinac to the Fort Mackinac Post Cemetery hosted by the Mackinac State Historic Parks. Interpreters from the fort and approximately two dozen guests marched from the Avenue of Flags outside the fort to the Fort Mackinac Post Cemetery.

Most guests held small American flags. When the procession arrived at the fort cemetery, Steven Brisson, director of Mackinac State Historic Parks, gave a short speech reminding attendees that we gather on Memorial Day to honor the fallen.

The interpreter soldiers offered a rifle salute, a bugler played taps, and a wreath was placed on Captain Edwin Sellers’ grave. Captain Sellers initiated the first services in 1883, when the holiday was known as Decoration Day. He died a year later. The wreath was donated by Joan Slater and her family.

Among the guests in attendance was Debbie Ferry, who said Memorial Day was a big day for her and she enjoyed the march.

Interpreters Ethan Stahl (not in order), Jacob Beerbower, Maverick Sharpe, Isaac Reyes, Grey Bowden, Clayton Westfaul, and Christian Guillery enter the Fort Mackinac Post Cemetery.

“I think it’s nice that they put something on like this,” she said.

With her was Tony Staeger. Both are Island summer residents, and they said they didn’t know about the event, but now that they do, if they’re on the Island when it happens, they would like to attend.

After the ceremony concluded, the small crowd dispersed, and the interpreters marched solemnly back to Fort Mackinac with some of the attendees following behind.

The march was a short, but meaningful event honoring the soldiers of Mackinac Island.

Interpreter Christian Guillery plays taps on a bugle following the rifle salute.

Interpreter Emily Fendt carried the wreath to the Post Cemetery and laid it on Captain Edwin Sellers’ grave.

Interpreters Christian Guillery (from left), Clayton Westfaul, Isaac Reyes, and Ethan Stahl march back to Fort Mackinac from the cemetery.

A gathering of about two dozen people join interpreters on the march from Fort Mackinac.

Fort interpreters fire a rifle salute at the Fort Mackinac Post Cemetery.