Historic Glen Arbor Cemetery hosts fifth annual Memorial Ceremony

From staff reports

See 67 newly placed headstones placed on formerly unknown and unmarked graves at the historic Glen Arbor Cemetery on Friday, May 24. Previously, 13 marked graves were the only ones known to be there. Then, one year ago, Glen Arbor Township employed ground-penetrating radar (GPR), revealing 75 unmarked graves and a “potter’s field” which holds additional remains.

From 1977-2021, the cemetery was mistakenly under the auspices of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, until documentation proving the township’s ownership resulted in it being transferred back. The cemetery had been buried under fallen timber from devastating straight-line winds from the August 2, 2015 megastorm that hit Glen Arbor. In 2019, the National Park Service opened an entrance to the cemetery. Then, as soon as the township regained ownership, it began to clear the full acre in preparation for GPR. Finally, in November, township treasurer Don Lewis donated, dug, and placed the 67 markers. Plans to mark the eight remaining graves are in the works.

The ceremony will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, May 24, and will feature a eulogy of Civil War veteran Edmund Trumbull, poetry by Anne-Marie Oomen, taps by Norm Wheeler, and the Glen Lake eighth graders will claim the names of those buried at the cemetery whom they each have studied.

The cemetery is located at 6305 Forest Haven Road. Park along the road and walk the path in. A track chair is available for those with mobility problems. Tick protection is strongly suggested. The ceremony should last 30 minutes. Seating will be available. Cancellation only in case of potential lightning strikes.

For more information, contact Glen Arbor Township Clerk Pam Laureto at glenarbor@glenarbortownship.com.