COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – A special procession will be held this Friday will honor the victims of the devastating Palm Sunday tornadoes that struck Branch County 60 years ago.
The event will begin at Coldwater Lake’s Pearl Beach at 7:00 p.m. and conclude back at Pearl Beach at 7:40 p.m.
Two F-4 tornadoes tore through southern Michigan and northern Indiana April 11, 1965, with 44 people killed and another 587 injuries. The National Weather Service estimated the damage, in 1965 dollars, at over $32 million.
Long-time Coldwater Lake resident Terry Swick sought a way to remember those lost in the disaster, with the Lakeland Fire Department stepping forward to join the Coldwater Lake Association in this Friday’s procession. The Lakeland Fire Department serves both Ovid and Kinderhook Township.
Residents are encouraged to show their appreciation by stepping outside the parade route from their Coldwater Lake homes or cottages to wave, salute, or hold signs in support of the Lakeland Fire Department volunteers as they pass by. Organizers say the procession, led by fire trucks with lights on and families in tow, will serve as a tribute to both the victims of the tornadoes and the fire department’s service to the community.
More information on the tornado history is available on the Coldwater Lake Association website.
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