Memorial Day is an important day for everyone, and rightfully so. But for fellow veterans like Mike Martin, it's even more important.

Mike, who served in the United States Navy for six years, is the president of the United Veterans Council of New Holland and heavily involved with the the New Holland American Legion post and the New Holland VFW post.

"I'm very proud to say I'm president of the United Veterans Council of New Holland," said Mike. "I put in a lot of time for the veterans in the area."

In his role as president, Mike will spearhead the United Veterans Council of New Holland's work on Memorial Day, Monday, May 25, including the organization's moving pilgrimage. The five-hour Memorial Day pilgrimage, which will begin at 6:30 a.m., will process to 13 cemeteries in eastern Lancaster County, where members of the United Veterans Council of New Holland will perform services to honor the veterans interred there.

This year will mark the 104th time that the United Veterans Council of New Holland has embarked on its local pilgrimage.

"It's a busy morning, and it's mixed emotions," said Mike. "When you're marching, you almost get goose bumps seeing all the people and the decorated graves. It's a somber moment."

After the United Veterans Council marches into each cemetery, prayers are spoken, flowers are placed on graves, a 21-gun salute is fired, and "Taps" is played, before the members march out. The New Holland Band will be on hand to play the national anthem and the official song of each branch of the military service.

Others participating include members of American Legion support groups and auxiliaries.

The United Veterans Council will gather at the New Holland American Legion Post at 6:30 a.m. and depart at 6:45 a.m. Stops included in the pilgrimage include 7 a.m. at Ranck's United Methodist Church, 700 Ranck Road, New Holland; 7:15 a.m. at Cedar Grove Presbyterian Church, 4833 Division Highway, East Earl; 7:30 a.m. at Bridgeville Evangelical, 5971 Division Highway, Narvon; 8 a.m. at Bowmansville Memorial Park, 155 Church St., Narvon; 8:30 a.m. St. John's Center Lutheran Church, 432 Reading Road, East Earl; 8:50 a.m. at Terre Hill Memorial Park, 210 Lancaster Ave., Terre Hill; 9:20 a.m. at Voganville Cemetery, 335 Wissler Road, New Holland; 9:35 a.m. at Groffdale Mennonite Church, 168 Groffdale Road, Leola; 10 a.m. at Zeltenreich Reformed Church, 1752 Hollander Road, New Holland; Evangelical United Methodist Church, 276 W. Main St., New Holland; 10:50 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, 221 E. Main St., New Holland; 11 a.m. at St. Stephen Reformed Church, 249 E. Main St., New Holland; and 11:20 a.m. at New Holland Community Memorial Park, 400 E. Jackson St., New Holland. There will be no program at the park.

"When we arrive at each cemetery, I will go and find each caretaker," said Mike. "I'll talk to a member of the veteran's family whose grave we'll be firing shots over, and I'll give them my condolences. I'm the representative of the veterans council."

A total of 1,670 American flags will be placed by the veterans council on eastern Lancaster County graves on Memorial Day. That number includes 40 for veterans interred at seven smaller cemeteries that are not part of the pilgrimage.

The ceremonial rituals performed at the cemeteries are typically well attended. At some, as many as 100 grateful citizens attend.

"The people participating want to be there to honor and respect the veterans," said Mike, a resident of Leola. "They all look forward to it. People really appreciate it when we come out to their cemetery."

Other members of the United Veterans Council are Alan Knoll, Ron Folker, and Lamar Martin, all residents of New Holland.

"We're here to honor and pay respect to the veterans who have gone before us," said Mike. "Hopefully, people will be able to attend to see what we do and what it's all about. We want to keep this going."