Member News

White Chapel Memorial Park Cemetery in Troy honors ‘Michigan’s own Polar Bears,’ the first U.S. soldiers to fight in Russia 104 years ago, during Memorial Day weekend events

May 28 Memorial Day Concert

May 29 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 104^th anniversary of the Polar Bears returning home. The Polar Bear Expedition was a contingent of about 5,000 U.S. troops from the 85^th Division, 339^th 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.

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 French-American sculptor Leon Hermant. 

On Monday, May 29, White Chapel Memorial Park Cemetery, will host the 92^nd 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.”

In addition, White Chapel will host a free Memorial Day Concert at 3 p.m. on Sunday, May 28, in front of the Temple of Memories. The concert-in-the-park features a program of patriotic songs performed by The Birmingham Concert Band, under the direction of Davis Gloff, vocalist and emcee.

“Sadly, the tragedy of war continues today with the battle between Russia and Ukraine,” said David R. Krall, Vice President, White Chapel Memorial Park Cemetery. “We are reminded of Michigan’s own Polar Bears – heroes who fought in harsh weather conditions in Russia 104 years ago. Memorial Day is a way to remember the Polar Bears and all military heroes. It is important that families of the fallen know we are grateful for their service to our country and each generation remembers the heavy sacrifice it takes to keep our country free.”

Throughout Memorial Day weekend, White Chapel Memorial Park Cemetery will display 500 American flags leading to the Memorials in honor of WWI, WWII, Korean, Vietnam and Persian Gulf War Veterans, as well as a POW/MIA memorial.

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.