The Grand Haven Memorial Day Parade committee with members from the American Legion Post #28, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2326, and the U.S Coast Guard Chief Petty Officers Association, along with the City of Grand Haven proudly known as “Coast Guard City, USA,” and Coast Guard Festival invite the public to a special unveiling ceremony of our new U.S. Coast Guard Brick Memorial in Escanaba Park on Memorial Day, Monday, May 26, 2025, immediately following the annual Memorial Day Parade. This is the only all-inclusive memorial of its kind, dedicated exclusively to each member of the Coast Guard who lost their life “in the line of duty.”
The U.S. Coast Guard Memorial Brick Garden will be the only one of its kind in the United States that memorializes all the members of the U.S. Coast Guard, Active Duty, Reserve, Auxiliary, Airmen, Sailors, Lighthouse Keepers, Seamen, and Surfmen, in one location.
The Coast Guard Brick Memorial is a permanent tribute to the men and women of the United States Coast Guard, past and present, and celebrates Grand Haven’s deep, historic connection with the service. This memorial is a testament to the courage, sacrifice, and service of the members of the U.S. Coast Guard and the community that supports them. Escanaba Park, with its view of Lake Michigan and proximity to the Coast Guard Station, is the perfect place for reflection and remembrance.
The unveiling ceremony will include remarks from Coast Guard officials, city leaders, and local veterans, followed by a moment of silence and the official ribbon cutting.
The Memorial Day Parade will begin at 9:30 AM at the corner of 6th and Franklin, heading south on Franklin to Harbor Drive. It will conclude at Escanaba Park, leading into the dedication ceremony around 10:30 AM.
For further information, please call BMC David G. Karpin, USCG (Ret.) (616) 638-9677