Dearborn 2016 Memorial Day Events: What You Need to Know

DEARBORN, MI – Before any summer barbecues kick off on Memorial Day, the community first honors fallen soldiers in what has become a time-honored tradition in Dearborn.

One of the largest Memorial Day parades in the United States and the oldest continuous parade in Michigan at 92 years, Dearborn’s event steps off at 10 a.m. on Monday, May 30, and features more than 80 patriotic units and nine marching bands.

Organized each year by the Dearborn Allied War Veterans Council (DAWVC) and the City of Dearborn, the parade includes school bands, community organizations, flyovers of jets and historic aircraft, and hundreds of veterans.

Stay Connected

• Get the Dearborn Patch free daily newsletter and news alerts
• Like Dearborn Patch on Facebook

Parade Ends at Henry Ford Centennial Library

This year, the parade is switching directions from its traditional route. The parade will head west on Michigan Avenue from Maple to the Henry Ford Centennial Library, 16301 Michigan Ave.

Funeral Procession for Homeless Veteran

Memorial Day activities will begin with a 9:40 a.m. military funeral procession along the parade route honoring a veteran who survived Vietnam, but 50 years later died without the resources to be buried.

The DAWVC has held this type of funeral procession for forgotten or homeless veterans through the “Missing in America” project six times in the last seven years.

See Also

• Final Resting Place for 250,000 Vets Is a Tin Can On a Shelf

Remembrance Ceremony Follows Parade

As always, the parade pays tribute to those who died in service to our country, but this year has a special focus on veterans who have lost their lives to suicide. The parade theme aims to raise awareness of, and help reduce, veteran suicides.

Following the parade, the public is invited to stay near the Henry Ford Centennial Library for the traditional Remembrance Ceremony honoring all who died in service.

DAWVC Commander Sean Green says the solemn ceremony will include the military funeral ritual to honor Richard Peter Nokell who served in the U.S. Air Force from 1962-1966 during the Vietnam War. He died earlier this year. His cremains were transported from Texas to Michigan.

After the funeral rite, the annual Remembrance Ceremony will include keynote remarks by the parade’s grand marshal, Stephen Cochran, a former Marine and well-known country music entertainer who works to prevent veteran suicides.

Parade Brings Awareness to Veteran Suicides

Cochran was severely injured on a combat patrol in Kandahar, Afghanistan. His long road to recovery resulted in depression, and through his own experience, he learned how suicidal thoughts can affect veterans and their families.

“The Dearborn Allied War Veterans Council is proud to partner with the City of Dearborn each year in order to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice while in service to our country,” Green said. “This year that tribute extends to all who those who have lost their lives due to suicide.

“I want to thank the thousands of community members and veterans from across our state who will join us on this day of tribute to the men and women and their families who gave so much so we could be free,” he said.

Music for the ceremony will be provided by the award-winning Divine Child High School Falcon Marching Band.

Additional highlights include:

• A free concert at 7 p.m., Saturday, May 28 at the Ford Community and Performing Arts Center. The concert will feature Grand Marshal Stephan Cochran and fellow country singer-songwriters Sam Tate and Tyler Jay Satterfield. Any donations will benefit the #Stop22 organization.
• Historic flyovers from the Yankee Air Museum, a B-25 Mitchell Bomber and a C-47 Dakota.
• Participation in the parade by Helen Kushnir, 90, lifelong Dearborn resident and real life “Rosie the Riveter.”

The parade is made possible by Dearborn Federal Savings Bank, East Dearborn Downtown Development Authority, Ford Motor Company, Foundation for American Veterans, Kroger (Michigan and Greenfield) and contributions from participating community groups.

Watch Rebroadcasts

Although there will not be live coverage on Memorial Day, Dearborn’s CDTV will record and broadcast the parade and Remembrance Ceremony on the following schedule:

• 4 p.m., Thursday, June 2
• 8 p.m., Friday, June 3
• 7 p.m., Saturday, June 4
• 3 p.m., Sunday, June 5

CDTV is Channel 12 on Comcast, Channel 10 on WOW! and Channel 99 on AT&T U-verse. The parade can also be viewed online via the City website at www.cityofdearborn.org beginning June 3.

Dearborn’s CDTV has created special television programming featuring the 2015 Memorial Service and other stories about veterans in our community that will air on Memorial Day.