Royal Oak Honors 150 Years of Service by Local Veterans

Royal Oak has been honoring military veterans with a Memorial Day parade for decades.

“It seems like the parade is one of those things that has always been around,” Memorial Day Parade co-chair Carlo Ginotti said.

Co-chair Carol Hennessey has been taking part in activities to honor veterans since her childhood, and remembers becoming interested in the Royal Oak parade when she moved to the area 45 years ago.

“My uncles and father were all in the military," she said. "My uncle was wounded in World War II and belonged to the Disabled American Veterans (DAV). He used to take me to Memorial Day and Veteran’s Day services."

This year's Royal Oak parade "will have something like 70 different groups involved,” she said.

Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts and Brownies will walk in the parade. Marching bands from and the and Southfield Lathrup High School will perform. Volunteers from ROHS will carry the spectacular large American flag, which was supplied by the Royal Oak DDA. Of course, members of such veterans groups as the VFW, the American Legion and Canadian Legion will be the main attraction.

Parade organizers would like to get even more veterans of all ages to participate in the parade. Some of the oldest and the youngest “don’t see themselves as heroes," Ginotti said. "They’re not involved in organized veterans’ groups.”

So the parade committee started an effort called Walk With a Veteran, in which youth groups such as Scouts and middle school students are encouraged to talk to veterans they know. “Your relatives or someone down the street – bring them to the parade and march with them,” Ginotti said.

The parade is scheduled start at 9 a.m. near Main Street and Harrison, and head north to Second Street where a traditional post-parade memorial service will take place at the Royal Oak Veteran's Memorial between City Hall and the Library.

Two special events at this year’s memorial service will highlight the long history of military service by Royal Oak residents. First, a young Royal Oak man will be commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps. Second ? “At the same time we’re also unveiling a Civil War monument,” Hennessey said.

“One of the Memorial Society members and a couple of Historical Society members thought (the Civil War monument) would be a good idea,” Hennessey said. “John Wendland from the American Legion coordinated it.”

The granite plaque fixed on the stone monument bears 17 names of Royal Oak area residents who served in the Civil War.

Ginotti said the commission has encouraged young kids to get involved with the parade too.

“In the '80s a lot of children would do things like ride their trikes in the parade, but then there was a drop off in younger children participating,” he said.

In recent years, however, Ginotti has seen an increase in the number of young children at the parade.

“That’s what tugs on my heartstrings – seeing kids on the sidewalks, waving flags, paying homage to the veterans,” he said.

Ginotti estimated several hundred spectators will line the parade route next Monday. “Last year it was packed on both sides of the street," he said.

“It’s very rewarding to see the community all come together and really show support for the veterans.”

While you’re downtown don't forget to enjoy another Royal Oak tradition, the annual Pancake Breakfast at the , sponsored by the , from 7 a.m. until noon.

If you're going

The Memorial Day parade kicks off Monday, May 30 at 9 a.m. and travels north on Main Street from Harrison Avenue to Second Street.

The theme of this year's parade is "A Time to Honor.”

Volunteers still needed

The parade organizers say volunteers are still needed to help on the day of the parade and to place flags at on May 28. For more information contact Carol Ginotti at 248.515.5557 or Carol Hennessey at 248.543-8420 or e-mail royaloakmemorialday@gmail.com.