Fort Wilkins Historic State Park will host a special Memorial Day Ceremony on Monday, May 25, beginning at 10 a.m. on the parade grounds of the old Fort Wilkins Historic Complex.

The ceremony will include historical war tunes and musical tributes by the Copper Harbor Elementary School student body and Mel Jones, director of the Gitche Gumee Bible Camp in Eagle River. Lee VerBerkmoes, Department of Natural Resources park supervisor, will give a Memorial Day address to honor our nation's armed forces. Free refreshments will be served following the ceremony, and area residents and visitors are encouraged to GO-Get Outdoors and help honor our nation's heroes.

This ceremony is being sponsored and funded by the Fort Wilkins Natural History Association, a nonprofit organization and friend to the Fort Wilkins Historic State Park. Funds are raised through memberships, donations, park store sales, as well as vending machines and laundry services to support and sponsor programs and special events at the park.

In the event of rain, the ceremony will be moved to the West Barracks at the park.

Fort Wilkins Historic State Park is located at 15223 U.S. Highway 41, one mile east of Copper Harbor. It offers modern camping, group camping and day use facilities, and features a restored 1844 military outpost and one of the first lighthouses on Lake Superior. Camping reservations can be made online at www.midnrreservations.com, or by calling the DNR central reservation system at 800-447-2757.

For more information about this event, the park, accessibility, or persons needing accommodations to attend this event, contact the park at (906) 289-4215 (TTY/TDD 711 Michigan Relay Center for the hearing impaired), or visit www.michigan.gov/historicfortwilkins.

All motor vehicles entering a state park or recreation area must display a Motor Vehicle Permit, available for purchase at the park entrance. Cost is $24 for a resident annual and $6 for a resident daily. A nonresident annual is $29 and a nonresident daily is $8.

Join the DNR in celebrating the 90th Anniversary of Michigan State Parks (1919-2009) this year. Events are being posted at www.michigan.gov/dnrgogetoutdoors.