Flag raising ceremony in Ishpeming

A flag raising ceremony at Memorial Park kicked of 4th of July Celebrations in Ishpeming this morning. More than a dozen people along with Vietnam Veterans gathered to pay their respects to Old Glory. The ceremony is also a way of paying honor to and thanking all of the men and women who have served our country.

“July the 4th in 1776 was the signing of the Declaration of Independence, which freed us from the government of Great Britain,” Vietnam Veterans of America Honor and Color Guard Commander Larry Collister said. “And ever since that date till this date literally millions of Americans, men and women have lost their lives protecting this freedom that we fought for back then.”

A rifle tribute was also part of the ceremony, followed by the playing of Taps.