‘Michigan’s own Polar Bears,’ the first
U.S. soldiers to fight in Russia 103 years ago, honored during Memorial Day
Service at White Chapel Memorial Park Cemetery in Troy
= May 29 Memorial
Day Concert
= May 30 Annual
WWI Polar Bear Memorial Day Service
TROY, Mich. – A group
of Michigan soldiers known as
the “Polar Bears,” made history more than 100 years ago as the first
U.S. soldiers to fight Russians in battle. This spring marks the 103 anniversary of the Polar Bears
returning home. The Polar Bear Expedition was a contingent of about
5,000 U.S. troops from the 85 Division, 339 infantry (mostly from Michigan) who landed in Arkhangelsk, Russia and fought the Bolshevik forces in the surrounding region during the period of September 1918 through July 1919, which led to 553 casualties.
An expedition under the auspices of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)
was successful in organizing and conducting a recovery mission in the autumn of
1929 that found, identified and brought out the remains of 86 U.S. soldiers. Another
dozen remains of Polar Bear soldiers were shipped by the Soviet Union to the
U.S. in 1934, which reduced the number of U.S soldiers still buried in North
Russia to about 30. The remains of 56 Polar Bear soldiers were eventually
re-buried at White Chapel Memorial Cemetery in Troy surrounding the Polar Bear
Monument by sculptor Leon Hermant.
On Monday, May 30, 2022, White
Chapel Memorial Park Cemetery, located at 621
W. Long Lake Rd. (just West of I-75) in Troy, will host the 91 Annual WWI Polar Bear Memorial Service at 11:00 a.m.
in front of the Polar Bear Monument. Reenactors
in historically accurate military attire will participate in a salute to “Michigan’s Own Polar Bears.”
Moreover,
White Chapel will host a free Memorial Day Concert at 3 p.m. on Sunday, May 29, 2022 in
front of the Temple of Memories. The concert-in-the-park features a
program of patriotic songs performed by The
Birmingham Concert Band, which provides a creative outlet for a stunning array of some of the area’s most accomplished musicians.
“As the Russia-Ukraine war continues, we are reminded of Michigan’s own Polar Bears – heroes who fought in harsh weather conditions in Russia 103 years ago,” said David R. Krall, Vice President, White Chapel Memorial Park Cemetery. “It is important to honor the Polar Bears and all of our military heroes so that the families of the fallen know we appreciate their service to our country and each generation remembers the heavy sacrifice it takes to keep our country free.”
Notably, a boulevard lined with 500
American flags and leading to the Memorials in honor of WWI, WWII, Korean, Vietnam
and Persian Gulf War Veterans, as well as a POW/MIA memorial, will welcome
visitors to White Chapel Memorial Park Cemetery throughout the weekend.
White Chapel Memorial Park Cemetery is located
at 621 W. Long
Lake Rd. (just West of I-75) in Troy. For more information, visit www.whitechapelcemetery.com.
