CITY SOLDIERS ON AMID PARADE CANCELLATION
Drive-by caravan, community mosaic among plans to honor servicemembers’ sacrifice
The COVID-19 crisis may have KO’d the Sterling Heights Memorial Day Parade, but city officials have put on their thinking caps to come up with alternate ways to honor military veterans.
Revised plans call for seven days of events, ranging from a drive-by caravan to a mosaic of resident-submitted photos of their favorite veteran or military service person.
The parade along Dodge Park Road has been a longtime community staple, attracting tens of thousands of spectators to cheer on veteran groups, high school marching bands, scout troops, city leaders and notable dignitaries.
In a news release, Mayor Michael Taylor said he was “incredibly sad” to have to cancel the procession because of the coronavirus outbreak.
“However, I’m equally proud to see the creativity among our residents and staff who, in lieu of the parade, have developed some novel ways to recognize and celebrate our local veterans and honor those who have paid the ultimate price with their lives while serving our country,” Taylor said in the release.
Melanie Davis, the city’s Community Development director, said many of the activities are collaborative and designed to engage all ages of the community in a safe way that observes social distancing.
The events include:
• Tuesday - Local veteran and 2021 Memorial Day Parade Grand Marshal Sharron Allen will perform a “Storytime” video for the Public Library. Allen, who was supposed to have been grand marshal for this year’s parade, will read a children’s book about valor.
• Wednesday - Residents are encouraged to submit a family photo or share a photo of their favorite veteran or military service person. Once the
photos are received, they will be combined into a mosaic of a full, finished piece of public art that will be unveiled via social media. The final image will be selected by the Sterling Heights Art Commission, and the mosaic will be constructed with the help of Stephen Crouchman, president of Live Picture.
• Thursday - A virtual storytelling Facebook event where veterans from Sterling Heights are invited to share a story about valor. Stories can be viewed in the Facebook
event and on the city’s cable television channel SHTV. The video story that receives the most likes and shares will receive $50 in Farmers Market Bucks to be used with any vendor when Dodge Park Farmers Market reopens.
• Friday - A video interview will be broadcast on social media and SHTV with local veteran Greg Bowman, who was grand marshal for the 2017 Memorial Day Parade.
• Saturday - Residents are encouraged to submit “shout-outs” to their favorite healthcare heroes who have exemplified valor on the front lines during the ongoing pandemic.
• Sunday - The city will broadcast a brief virtual ceremony to raise the American and Purple Heart flags in front of the Community Center. The broadcast will be featured during a 7 p.m. Facebook watch party so all residents can experience the event together.
• Memorial Day - Members of the police and fire departments will be part of a short drive-by caravan celebration to wave and honk their horns throughout the predetermined route to recognize those who have died in the line of duty. The event will be videotaped for broadcast on SHTV and social media.