Lakeview Cemetery, established in 1878, is a 20-acre graveyard within the City of Escanaba made up of land donated by Nelson Ludington. It was named for the “sweeping” views of Lake Michigan at the time — though the property was over a mile from the bay, the water could be seen from the high point of the cemetery across the yet-undeveloped Escanaba.

The oldest stone at Lakeview is from 1870, according to the Delta County Geneological Society. Graves were interred from the old St. Joseph Churchyard, which is now Rose Park.

“The local Scouts have historically placed American flags in honor of our veterans prior to Memorial Day for years,” said Scouting Assistant District Commissioner Mark Rose, who has with with area Scouts for about 35 years.

On the cool night of Monday, May 11, members of Escanaba Troop 411 and Gladstone Troop 466 were joined by Cub Scouts from Pack 411 of Escanaba and Pack 471 of Gladstone to pay homage to deceased veterans. Rose said they brought a large plastic tub full of flags and spent about two hours marking all the final resting places of Lakeview’s veterans.

A family plot at Lakeview Cemetery shows the graves of two Stasewich military veterans adorned with flags placed by Scouts ahead of Memorial Day. (Photo courtesy of Mark Rose)

“Troop 411 took over the flag duty from Troop 473 of Flat Rock after their unit disbanded a few years ago. Scoutmaster Gary LaMarche reluctantly handed over the big box of lags to Troop 411 after 473’s Scout numbers fell,” Rose wrote. “Scott Thompson, one of the Troop 473 Scouts, returned as an Assistant Cubmaster for Pack 471 with his son. Scott’s father Rich Thompson T-473, a Marine veteran himself, was very instrumental with the flag detail for years. In the big box of flags there was also a homemade jig for repairing the little flag stands which Rich Thompson had made.”

This Monday, May 25, the Delta County Veterans Council will visit Lakeview Cemetery around 9:25 a.m. for a small ceremony as part of their Memorial Day route to Escanaba cemeteries.

At 6 p.m. on June 8, Troop 411 plans to retrieve the flags from Lakeview Cemetery, which is bordered on the north by Ludington Street, on the east by 19th Street, on the south by 3rd Ave South and on the west by 21st Street. Other units are encouraged to join in collecting the flags on the 8th.

For information about all Scouting in the area, people may contact Mark Rose at 906-630-1864 or grommetdog@gmail.com.