Plans Set for Dearborn's Memorial Day Parade

Dearborn's 88th annual Memorial Day Parade is set to make its way down Michigan Avenue on Monday, May 28.

The parade will begin at Greenfield Road at 10 am., traveling down Michigan Avenue to __.

The day will also include a solemn funeral procession in honor of veterans who died without resources, and a Remembrance Ceremony at noon at __.

The Dearborn Allied War Veterans Council, with support from the City of Dearborn, organizes the parade, which in 2012 especially honors Cold War veterans.

Thirteen former DAWVC Commanders will be special marshals in the parade. All served during the Cold War era, 1945-1991. They are: Dave Dumas, Audrey Myers, George Harvey, John Ruselowski , Tom Houle, Richard Prezbienda, Leo Barrett, Frank Pelaccio, Craig Tillman, Ted Gagacki, Pat Tajack, Gary Tanner and Richard Fleek. All served during the Cold War era, between 1945 and 1991.

“We salute the millions of Cold War soldiers, sailors and airmen who performed critical missions, served honestly, honorably and faithfully – peacekeepers who stayed combat ready and were willing to pay the ultimate sacrifice,” said DAWVC Commander Tom Wilson.

Dr. Donald C. Winter, secretary of the Navy from 2006 to 2009, and an advocate for the recognition of Cold War veterans and their contributions to the security of the United States, will serve as the parade’s grand marshal.

Dearborn’s Memorial Day Parade, the oldest continuous parade in Michigan, includes 80 groups and more than 1,500 participants. Hundreds of veterans and veterans’ organizations will be joined by community groups. Flyovers of military and historic aircraft will be part of this year’s parade once again.

Music will be provided by the 338th Army Reserve Band and eight Dearborn school bands.

Also joining the parade this year will be the Montford Point Detachment Marine Corps League. They were recently awarded Congressional Gold Medals for being the first African Americans to serve in the Marines.

Wilson commented that the parade focuses on the true meaning of Memorial Day.

“As a child growing up, I was raised to show respect to our fallen,” said Wilson. “This parade will honor all men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice, and all those who unselfishly served, so that they are never forgotten.”

For the third year, the parade will also include a horse-drawn caisson carrying the cremains of veterans who died without resources and never received proper internment. The DAWVC is committed to finding deceased veterans in line with the “Missing in America” project.

This year, four WWII veterans whose cremains have been in a local funeral home for as long as 66 years will receive military honors. They will be performed by the U.S. Army Ritual Team at the noon Remembrance Ceremony.

The men are Pvt. George Antoncew (1924 – 1989), Pvt. Eugene Lago (1920 – 1984), Cpl. Harold C. Shumacher (1924 – 1987) and Cpl. Lawrence B. Wickham (1911 – 1946).

Watch the Memorial Day Parade live on City of Dearborn Television, which is Comcast Channel 12 and WOW channel 10. It can also been seen on AT&T U-verse and at www.cityofdearborn.org.