By Linda May, For The Macomb Daily
The ninth annual Detroit Veterans Day Parade on Nov. 8 in Detroit is dedicated to Vietnam veterans. The sponsor, Metropolitan Detroit Veterans Coalition, is looking for nominations of Vietnam vets to be honored at the event.
The parade, which may have 4,000 participants this year, starts at 11 a.m. at 2951 Woodward Ave., Detroit and ends in front of Comerica Park with a ceremony commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War. The U.S. government is conducting a multi-year commemoration of the conflict. One objective of the United States American Vietnam War Commemoration is to thank and honor those who were held as prisoners of war or listed as missing in action.
The parade was selected by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Day National Committee as one of the nations model events and official regional sites for Veterans Day observances. The Michigan National Guard is participating in the parade as a Department of Defense Commemorative Partner.
Macomb resident Alan Opra is chairman of the coalition that is bringing active duty military, veterans, military historians and supporters together for the parade.
The year 2015 is the 50th commemoration of the Vietnam War, Opra said. We are accepting nominations of 10 people to honor, and once we get those applications, a committee will go through them. It doesnt have to be the most decorated veteran, or even an in-country Vietnam vet. It could be someone who served during that era but later blazed a trail for their brothers who came home.
Opra served in the U.S. Marine Corps at the time of the 1983 suicide truck bombing of a base in Beirut, Lebanon that killed hundreds of U.S. military personnel.
The coalitions mission is to help promote patriotism using the parade for awareness and appreciation of veterans and their families and their sacrifices. It is a nonprofit organization, and contributions are deductible. Donations are needed for busing of ROTC students, marching bands, fuel for military vehicles such as those from the St. Clair Shores Arsenal of Democracy Museum, barricades, advertising, municipal services, and other expenses. The mailing address for contributions to Detroit Veterans Day Parade can be mailed to Richard Chatman, 20209 Briarcliff St., Detroit MI 48221.
Some of the participants from Macomb County or with local connections include Vietnam Veterans of American Chapter 9, Veterans of Foreign Wars Fraser Post 6691, South Vietnamese Veterans and Former Civil Servants, the Vietnamese American Association if Michigan, Stahls Automotive Foundation, Michigan Dressers Motorcycle Club, Veterans of Foreign Wars Department of Michigan, UAW Region 1 Color Guard, Macomb County Voiture 1061 (an American Legion-associated group), Piquette Square Honor Guard and AMVETS Ladies Auxiliary Post 57. Re-enactors, and many other patriotic groups participate.
More groups and individuals may register by Tuesday by calling or emailing Chatman at 313-861-8652 or mdva@detroitveteransdayparade.org. Nominations of Vietnam veterans to honor are due by Oct. 17. A nomination form is on the website at detroitveteransdayparade.org
The parade began in 2006 in Detroit, the city that was once heralded as The Arsenal of Democracy.
Opra is also president of the Veterans Memorial Park of Detroit Inc., which has been negotiating with the City of Detroit to establish a memorial park to honor Detroit area veterans.
We want a site like Gabriel Richard Park where there isnt a fee to enter which has high visibility and is along a major thoroughfare for the Veterans Day Parade to serve as an end or starting point, Opra said. This will honor all Michigan veterans as well as the history of the Arsenal of Democracy, the Tuskegee Airmen, the Triple Nickels, Montford Point Marines and the Polar Bears. This is an educational memorial that tells the story of Michigans patriotic history.
ROTARY HOLDS FOOD BANK FUNDRAISER
The Utica-Shelby Township Rotary Clubs second annual food bank benefit spaghetti dinner is 1-6 p.m. Sunday at the Candlelight Wedding Chapel and Banquet Hall in the Auburn Plaza at 2108 Auburn Road, Shelby Township. Donation is: $12 adults, $7 children for spaghetti, salad, dessert, bread and beverages. Club president John Currell said the event benefits food banks at Faith Lutheran Church, Lakeside Bible Chapel, United Utica Methodist Church, Trinity Lutheran, and Riverwood Community Church.
LIONS CLUB SPONSORS OKTOBERFEST
The Selfridge North Macomb Lions Club presents Oktoberfest 3-10 p.m. Oct. 4 in the heated pavilion at Gibraltar Trade Center North, 237 N. River Road, Mount Clemens. There is German food, cash bar raffles, dancing and music by Die Dorfmusikanten. Tickets are $5.
DONATE FOOD AT ZOMBIE WALK
The Romeo Zombie Walk is at 4 p.m. Oct. 5 in Village Park near Main Street and W. St. Clair Street (32 Mile Road.) Zombies are asked to bring donations for the Macomb County Veterans Food Bank located at the Veterans Support Center in Roseville. The Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 154 that operates the food bank has a privately owned military deuce-and-a-half truck available to them.
We will have the deuce on site with hopes of filling it with canned goods for the food bank, veteran Steve Bago said. This event has grown over the years and we always have a good time, even in the rain last year.
CEMETERY WALK BENEFITS WREATH PROGRAM
The Cemetery Walk 2014 Legendary Locals is at 1 p.m. Oct. 5 at Clinton Grove Cemetery at 21189 Cass Ave., Clinton Township. Admission is $10 for a guided tour of the graves of prominent locals in early Mount Clemens history. Proceeds go toward the purchase of wreaths for veterans graves as part of the annual Wreaths Across America project supported by many veterans and Knights of Columbus groups. See WreathsAcrossAmerica.org.
K OF C AND VFW COLLECT TOYS
The Michigan Dressers Motorcycle Clubs 27th annual Toys for Kids motorcycle run is Oct. 5. It is sponsored by the Dressers, the John F. Kennedy Knights of Columbus Council 5460, and the VFW Fraser Post 6691. It takes place at the post at 17075 Anita Ave., Fraser.
Sign-in begins at 10 a.m., and motorcycles and cars are welcome. For entry, bring one new unwrapped toy or a $10 cash donation. The event includes a live band, food, cash bar and raffles. A motorcycle parade departs at noon.
Hal Richmond has chaired past events.
The VFW provides their facility for the toy run along with obtaining licenses and permits required, Richmond said. They also help out until all our personnel have returned from their duties during the run, like road blocking along with the police department leading the route. The K of C provides personnel to man the grill for cooking burgers and dogs.
He said the Dressers provide toys for the groups Christmas parties for disadvantaged youngsters.
We also help out by bringing in a bike and taking photos of kids on the bike. It is a combined effort, Richmond said.
The event lasts until 5 p.m. For information, call 586-243-8209.
Cash donations and proceeds go to this years sponsored child, Dylan Rheker, 14, who has neurofibromatosis, a genetic disorder that causes benign and cancerous tumors. Children with the condition may have learning disabilities, scoliosis and vision problems. Doctors say Dylan has inoperable brain cancer and tumors on his optic nerve that cause partial blindness. He has been through chemotherapy and was recently accepted at the St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital in Memphis.
Send service club and veterans news to: Linda May c/o The Macomb Daily, 19176 Hall Road, Clinton Township MI 48038 or lindamay@ameritech.net. Phone 586-791-8116. Fax 586-469-2892.
