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Remember. Honor. Teach.
Melanie (Hamel) Napolitano, 72 years of age, passed away on Wednesday, September 22, 2021 at her home in Livonia, Michigan. Always known as Mel, she was born January 7, 1949 in Detroit, Michigan to the late Millicent and Alfred Hamel.
She was the youngest of two children, one preceded her in death. Melanie graduated from Redford High School in Redford, Michigan. She married Thomas Napolitano on January 8, 1977 and raised two children, Amanda (Shattuck) and Jay, in Livonia, Michigan. Melanie was proud to be a homemaker and enjoyed cooking and taking care of her family. She worked at Kmart and Paychex, and had a knack for customer service and strong work ethic. Melanie loved being around other people and struck up conversations with people wherever she went. She was a loving and devoted mother, wife, and grandmother; always thinking of others' needs before her own. She always was available to lend a listening ear and thoughtful advice and loved a good long heart-to-heart. Melanie always had a song for every one of life’s moments. She spent her years of retirement taking care of her three grandchildren, Raymond, Gavin, and Harper. Her hobbies were traveling with her grandkids, cooking, going to music concerts, and spending time with her family. She leaves behind her husband, two children, son-in-law, three grandchildren, and too many friends to count.
A Celebration of Life for close friends and family will be held October 10, 2021. In place of flowers, donations can be made to Wreaths Across America.
Please click the red “Sponsor” button to purchase wreaths to be placed on veterans graves on December 13, 2025 at 11:00 am (Wreath Placement Immediately Following Ceremony) at Great Lakes National Cemetery. Also, if you would like to Volunteer to participate in the wreath laying ceremony, please click the “Volunteer” button or click the "Invite" button to invite your family and friends to attend Wreaths Day with you.
Sponsor Wreaths
Volunteer
Invite
MISSION BBQ Customers Donate $352,930 to Sponsor Veterans’ Wreaths for 2025
142 participating locations will receive veterans’ wreaths because of the generous donations in the communities where MISSION BBQ customers support the mission.
Wreaths Across America Honors “Flying Tiger Line Flight 739” with a Special Remembrance Ceremony
On Sunday, March 16, 2025, Wreaths Across America remembers the 63nd anniversary of the Disappearance of Flying Tiger Line Flight 739. Join us for a special event at 2 p.m. on our official Facebook page and over Wreaths Across America Radio.
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Location Information
4200 Belford Rd
Parking at Ascension Genesys Hospital
Holly, MI 48442-9444, United States
Click here for the Great Lakes National Cemetery Page
Directions to Cemetery
***Shuttle Service and Parking ***
*Unfortunately, there is not sufficient parking at the cemetery for volunteers and offsite parking is necessary. This year every effort will be made to prevent shuttle bus delays and keep them moving as timely as possible. Please observe and respect the following rules and laws. Multiple state and local police departments will be participating and patrolling to see that they are enforced. Keeping the buses moving is a key part of making this an enjoyable experience for all.
*There is NO onsite parking at the cemetery for volunteers. The limited parking is reserved for the elderly and those needing assistance, They will park in the administration building lots. Parking cars on the side of the cemetery roads only delays buses and hinders the semi-trucks. Parking will be off site at the Ascension Genesys Hospital (a name change is in process for the hospital and will be Henry Ford Genesys) located at 1 Genesys Parkway off Holly Rd. just west of the I-75 Holly Rd. exit. Signs will direct you where to park. Busses to the cemetery will begin running at 9:30 AM.The busses will be unloading and picking up at the administration building.
*Police will be checking cars at the entrance for credentials. Those without will not be allowed to enter.
*State police will be operating Belford as a one-way road eastbound from Holly to Dixie Hwy. Cars that turn onto Belford from Holly and do not have credentials to enter the cemetery will not be allowed to turn around on Belford. They will be instructed by the police to continue east on Belford to Dixie Hwy and return to the shuttle bus lot from there. This is to keep returning traffic off Holly Rd. To keep it clear for emergency vehicles and to not delay the buses.
*Parking on the side or shoulder of Holly or Belford is prohibited by law. It creates unsafe passage for vehicles and delays the buses. Police will be patrolling these areas.
*Police will be onsite at the hospital and directing the buses through priority lanes to keep them moving.
*When you are on the grounds of the cemetery please make every effort to move off the road when buses are coming through. Every delay adds time to the bus route.
Parking Instructions
***Shuttle Service and Parking ***Ceremony and Volunteer Information
We are happy that you are willing to help with our Wreath Across America Wreath Laying Event at Great Lakes National Cemetery. Please do not forget to register to volunteer! That way you will get all updates about the cemetery itself.
Here are some things to remember about the ceremony:
- Everyone of all ages and backgrounds is welcome.
- Please help ensure that all participants get the opportunity to place a wreath.
- Please follow the location coordinators instructions on where to place wreaths, as well as "how" they should be placed
- Remember!!! We lay these wreaths to honor our veterans. Please do not take or remove wreaths from the cemetery.
- We especially appreciate volunteers willing to help clean-up. Please check in with the location coordinator if you are interested in helping with the clean-up.
- Grave blankets, wreaths that are not from WAA or any personal items that have been placed at a grave site are not to be removed.
The most important thing to remember is to have a wonderful experience placing Wreaths to achieve our mission to remember, honor and teach.
Our Locations
MIGLNH - Great Lakes National Cemetery
Welcome to MIGLNH - Great Lakes National Cemetery and thank you deeply for helping us with our goal to honor as many veterans as possible on Wreaths Across America Day, December 13, 2025 (Wreath Placement Immediately Following Ceremony). Please click "View" to learn more about our effort or to volunteer to help or click "Sponsor" to purchase wreaths that will be laid on the graves of our fallen heroes by our loyal volunteers.
