This coming Monday, May 26, and all throughout the weekend before, we celebrate Memorial Day. As we enjoy the festivities and the time off, let’s not forget to reflect on those who made it possible by fighting for the freedoms we hold dear.
On Monday, the Brown Funeral Home and Brown Family Center will sponsor “Thunder Rolls in Belleville.” This Memorial Day tribute will honor the memory of veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice, giving their lives to protect our nation.
Participants can register and line up for the ride starting at 11 am in Wayne County Community College’s front parking lot, located off of Haggerty and (-94 (take exit 192 and then proceed north on Haggerty).
The group will make their way to the Belleville Veteran’s Memorial in Horizon Park, located off Belleville Lake on High Street, east of Main Street, across from Grace Baptist Church. The estimated arrival time is between 2 and 2:30 pm. There will be a memorial service once all are assembled.
There is a $10 fee and all riders are welcome. The money will benefit veterans from our area and their families. Call 734-697-5090 or e-mail browngriefcenter@yahoo.com for more information.
September 11 is Patriot Day in Macomb County, Michigan. It's a time to honor those who died on September 11, 2001 and the emergency responders and military personnel who have served our country and sacrificed their lives since that horrible day.
At 5 p.m. tomorrow, September 11, 2007, motorcycles will start gathering at American Legion Post 4 located at 401 N. Groesbeck Highway in Mount Clemens, Michigan. Bikers will leave Post 4 at 7 p.m. for a solemn ride to Freedom Hill County Park in Sterling Heights. A patriotic program will pay tribute to fallen Macomb County police officers, firefighters and EMTs. At dusk, a color guard will present the colors and raise the American flag from half-staff. The playing of Taps will be followed by a rifle salute. Veterans will read the names of Macomb County servicemen and women killed in action in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. A Freedom Walk around the park will conclude the evening. Residents are encouraged to join in a communal expression of reflection, tribute and thanks as we remember those who have paid the ultimate price for the freedom we all enjoy.
The first 9-11 Freedom Walk was organized by Pentagon employees to honor their fallen co-workers. The first annual walk was held in 2005 when 15,000 people walked from the Pentagon to the National Mall in Washington DC. Freedom Walks have been adopted by communities across America as a way to remember the victims and heroes of 9-11.
Sponsors of the event are the Vietnam Veterans Association Chapter 154, Macomb County Fallen Heroes, American Legion Post 4 and Veterans of Modern Warfare Chapter 4. Admission and parking at Freedom Hill County Park are free for this event. The park is located at 15000 Metropolitan Parkway (16 Mile Road) between Schoenherr and Utica Roads in Sterling Heights, Michigan.
