“Laying of the Lilacs” Ceremony

Description

The annual Laying of the Lilacs community ceremony sponsored by the Benzie Area Historical Society will be held on Saturday, May 25, at 11:00 a.m. at the Benzonia Township Cemetery to honor the area's Civil War veterans at the mushroom-shaped monument made by the E.P. Case Grand Army of the Republic Post 372 veterans in the late 1880s.  

In his book "Waiting for the Morning Train," local Pulitzer-prize-winning author Bruce Catton recalls seeing Civil War veterans at ceremonies at the monument.

The Benzie Area Historical Society, with the leadership of Susan Case Lutes and Jane Purkis, renewed their annual "laying of the lilacs" tradition more than 20 years ago.  Lilacs grew and continue to grow profusely in Benzie County, so veterans used this early spring bloomer during their spring ceremonies.

The Benzie Area Historical Museum celebrates the people who served overseas and on the home front during World War II.  The cemetery program for 2024 will recognize two local veterans who were WWII Prisoners of War: Lt. Commander George Petritz and Corporal Royal Call.  Members of the Petritz and Call families will share their father and grandfather's experiences as P.O.W.s.

The Benzie Area Historical Society's annual "Laying of the Lilacs" will include music again this year with violinists Dorothy Byers and Rob Jones.

The public is encouraged to attend, and lawn chairs are suggested.  

Following the program, Purkis will lead a headstone cleaning workshop focusing on the graves of veterans.  The Benzie Area Historical Society has launched a county-wide project to teach community volunteers how to clean headstones non-invasively. 

Each participant will need to bring a "cleaning kit" consisting of a bucket, a natural stiff brush, a toothbrush, a trowel, a trash bag, and a plastic or wood "scraper." No metal objects may be used to clean the stones.   

The Laying of the Lilacs Ceremony and headstone cleaning session will be held at the Benzonia Township Cemetery, Love Rd, Benzonia, on Saturday, May 25.  The ceremony begins at 11:00, with the gravestone cleaning session expected to start around noon.  Follow the Event signs.

For more information about the ceremony, program, or cleaning session, please contact the Benzie Area Historical Society at (231) 882-5539 or by emailing info@benziemuseum.org.   Details are available on their website: www.benziemuseum.org.