Michigan WWII Legacy Memorial in Royal Oak to host Phase 1 Dedication Ceremony
The Michigan WWII Legacy Memorial to host Phase 1 Dedication Ceremony from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 10, at the northwest corner of Memorial Park, 31100 Woodward Avenue, Royal Oak.
The memorial is the state’s official tribute to the men and women whose ingenuity and courage were instrumental, both on the home front and war front, to the victory of Allied forces in WWII, according to a press release.
Phase 1 construction includes: placement of over 1,450 engraved pavers making up the Walk of Honor — dedicated to those who served both at home and overseas, unveiling of the first full-sized bronze statue, raising of military flags, and viewing of the first two boulders in the War in Words and entrance and exit dedication plinths.
Fox News Chief Meteorologist and Air Force veteran Rich Luterman will emcee the event. WWII Navy veteran Art Fishman and original Rosie the Riveter Frances Master will accept the dedication on behalf of those who contributed to the war and home fronts.
The main speakers include Jocelyn Benson, Michigan Secretary of State and Adam Hollier, director of the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency. The program will conclude with a B-17 flyover.
Food will be available following the ceremony provided by Mission BBQ and Chicken Shack. The event is open to the public. WWII veterans and original Rosie the Riveters who will be attending are asked to RSVP so they can be acknowledged during the program.
Parking for WWII veterans and original Rosies and those with disabilities (with permits) will be available in the Woodward Avenue lot in front of the memorial.
Public parking for guests will be available in lots at 13 Mile and Coolidge with shuttle buses available to take attendees to the memorial site.
Sponsors and volunteers are needed. For more information and to volunteer, visit www.michiganww2memorial.org or contact Judy Maten, board member Judy.maten@michiganww2memorial.org.
White Chapel Memorial Park Cemetery to host V-J Day Service
White Chapel Memorial Park Cemetery to host its 75th annual V-J Day Service at noon on Sunday, August 13, at 621 W. Long Lake Rd. (west of I-75) in Troy.
Veterans, their families, and the general public, are invited to attend the service.
The event features members of the VFW.
They will parade down a boulevard featuring large American flags to the historic WWII Four Freedoms Memorial, participate in a ceremony and place wreaths at the foot of the memorial. Notably, White Chapel’s WWII Four Freedoms Memorial was constructed for the 1948 V-J Day memorial ceremony in which 115 soldiers and sailors were laid to rest in the largest peacetime mass burial in the history of the United States. A total of 322
WWII soldiers and sailors were killed in action that were returned from overseas and laid to rest surrounding the memorial. Thousands of other WWII veterans are laid to rest at White Chapel Memorial Park Cemetery.
“It is important to honor and remember the sacrifices of our military heroes who fought hard to preserve the freedom we cherish today,” said David R. Krall, White Chapel vice president.
White Chapel’s WWII Four Freedoms Memorial was inspired by President Roosevelt’s Four Freedoms, Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Worship, Freedom from Want, Freedom from Fear — jointly initiated with Winston Churchill in the historic Atlantic Charter. The memorial is sculptured in imperishable marble in one of White Chapel’s most impressive memorials. For more information, call 248-362-7670 or visit www.whitechapelcemetery.com.
Upcoming events
• Oakland County Veteran Services along with Forgotten Harvest and Oakland County Parks to host Veterans Food Drive from 9 a.m. to noon, Thursday, Aug. 17, at Independence Oaks County Park, Pine Grove Shelter, at 9501 Sashabaw Road, Clarkston. Register today to pick up free food and learn about what Oakland County Parks has to offer Oakland County Veterans and their families. Register at: tinyurl.com/3ea4878t. For more information, email Tyrone Jordan at jordant@oakgov.com or call 248-285-8016.
• Oxford American Legion Post 108 to host Euchre from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 7 and from noon to 3 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 10, and Fish Dinners from noon to 8 p.m. Friday Aug. 11, at 130 E. Drahner Road, Oxford. For more information, call 248-6289081.
• Holly American Legion Post 149 to host Open Mic Night at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 11, at 408 S. Saginaw. Public welcome. For more information, call 248-6343822.
The Oakland Press is interested in all veterans events in Oakland County. Please send info in the body of an email with subject line “Veterans Affairs” to Sharon Longman at sslstart@aol.com. Allow two weeks’ notice for scheduled events and include a phone number for readers to call for more information.