In Old Village Cemetery, headstones of Brighton leaders and residents peer down over their city as if to observe the changes through the years. Please join community members for a civic pride event working inside the beautiful ornamental fence under the canopy of mature trees honoring those buried there. You will find the names of both prominent and ordinary citizens from Brighton’s earliest days who endured hardships that can only be imagined as they settled these Michigan frontier villages.

One of our goals for this spring clean up event is to have Old Village Cemetery in a respectful condition in time for May 31st Memorial Day commemoration. Veterans of the Blackhawk War, Civil War, Spanish-American War, World War I and World War II are interred here. Their lives and final place of rest are an important part of Brighton's rich history. Memorial Day activities will include the American Legion/VFW Parade and the rededication of Old Village Cemetery, which includes a memorial performance by the 5th Michigan Regiment Band, a Civil War reenactment band.

The BAHS recognizes the contributions that service men and women have made to preserve the freedoms we experience. Please join the volunteer teams as we work to revitalize these grounds and provide a more respectful setting. Volunteers of all ages with work gloves are needed to use steel rakes, leaf rakes, shovels, axes, branch/brush shears, all of which will be provided. For the removal of small weed trees, we need adult volunteers who can bring chain saws.

We are guaranteed a spring day that will provide fellowship to all participants while experiencing the beauty of Old Village Cemetery. Everyone will leave with a good feeling, emanating deep from within their hearts that their donation of five hours is one small thank you to our veterans that have served this great country!

Please contact us at (810) 250-7276 to sign up so that I can plan work accordingly. Everyone is needed! Thank you in advance.

Jim Vichich