Plymouth, Romulus join Wreaths Across America
Dec. 27, 2020 PLYMOUTH EAGLE.
Plymouth Michigan News
Sacred service
Don Howard
Staff Writer
Last Saturday, Riverside Cemetery in Plymouth and Romulus Memorial Cemetery were the sites of mass wreath laying ceremonies by participants of the National Wreaths Across America Day when some 200 volunteers placed more than 500 wreaths on veterans’ graves.
Each December, there is a coordinated mission to remember fallen U.S. veterans, honor those who serve, and teach children the value of freedom, is carried out at Arlington National Cemetery and more than 2,100 locations across the U.S., in all 50 states, at sea and abroad.
Members of the Livonia Police Department Honor Guard presented a salute firing rifle volleys, accompanied by cadets from the R.O.T.C., and the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol. Taps were played and 35th District Court Chief Judge James Plakas gave the invocation at the 140- year-old cemetery. Huron Valley Chapter Sons of the American Revolution and the Sarah Ann Cochrane Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution participated laying wreaths. Elijah Shalis, first vice president, Chaplain the Rev. Sam Laswell of the Huron Valley Chapter including the Great Lakes District and Vice President Gen. James Petres were also there to officiate. The cemetery is located behind the 35th District Court on Plymouth Road west of Haggerty. Many prominent Plymouth residents and early settlers of the area are buried at Riverside.
In 1915 and 1916, several graves were moved from the Old Presbyterian Cemetery on Church Street, where the First Presbyterian Church is today. Some graves were also moved from the small Shearer Cemetery on North Territorial Road. Markers with familiar names like Starkweather, Penniman and Hough can be found on the quiet acreage.
Romulus firefighters sponsored the Wreaths Across America event at Romulus Cemetery where veteran’s of several wars are interred.
Romulus Memorial Cemetery was once called Blair Cemetery and was the only cemetery in the city. The earliest recorded burial was on Dec. 21, 1833 of Polly Pullens, the wife of Jenks Pullens. Jenks Pullens served in the New York Militia war in 1812. In 1836, Ira S. Hall came to Romulus; he served in the war of 1812 and died June 20, 1859. In 1877. Robert Monomus, born in 1847, was the last known Civil War Veteran buried in the cemetery. He was only 14 years old when he enlisted in the One Hundred and Second (102nd) United States Colored Troops Union Black Unit. He was 94 old at the time of his death on May 14, 1942. There are 25 Civil War Veterans buried in the Romulus Memorial Cemetery.
Photos of the Romulus Wreaths Across America ceremony were not available.
Plymouth Voice.
Gallery Photo: Elijah Shalis
