List: Memorial Day Events In Royal Oak and Surrounding Communities

Memorial Day weekend – the first holiday weekend of summer, as it's called, is a time for parades, picnics and perhaps a cottage-opening trip up north.

It's also a more solemn occasion for many families, as befits the name Memorial Day. Graveside visits, flag placements and memories of former service members are part of the late May ritual for millions of Americans.

Royal Oak Memorial Day events

In Royal Oak begins at 9 a.m. near Main Street and Harrison, heading north on Main to Second and east to the Royal Oak Veterans Memorial for a ceremony.

"The Memorial Service has always been a very solemn event at which we as a community join together to remember our veterans," said Carlo Ginotti, Co-Chair of the Memorial Parade Committee. “This year, in addition to the bands from Royal Oak High School and Middle School who traditionally play at the service, the Navy Band has agreed to perform a very special tribute to our fallen heroes.” 

Also, scheduled on the morning of the parade and service, the Royal Oak Historical Society will host its annual Pancake Breakfast Fund Raiser at the across the street from the Royal Oak Veterans Memorial.

Pancakes will be served from 7:00 a.m. until noon. The all-you-can-eat-breakfast is $6.00 per person – children under 10 eat for $3.00. This year the Navy Band will be enjoying pancakes at the breakfast and the public, including parade participants and spectators, are encouraged to stop by for pancakes and a chance to meet them before the parade. For information about breakfast go to: http://www.royaloakhistoricalsociety.com/pancake.html 

Here is a list of events scheduled in other communities Monday:

• Beverly Hills: Parade starts at 11 a.m. from , traveling north on Evergreen and then east on Beverly Road to Beverly Park. Participants include U.S. Marines, marching bands, a bagpiper, scouts, Brownies, Little Leaguers, decorated bikes, classic cars, fire trucks, police and sheriff vehicles. The Beverly Hills Lions Club hosts a four-mile and two-mile family walk starting at 9 a.m. in Beverly Park, 18305 Beverly Rd. A carnival there follows the parade.
• Clawson: Parade kicks off at 10 a.m. from , 655 S. Main, to  at North Main Street and Roth Boulevard. A brief ceremony includes a 21-one gun salute. 
• Dexter: American Legion Post 557, the Dexter Area Historical Society and the village present a 9 a.m. service in the Monument Park gazebo, followed by a parade .
• Farmington: Parade starts at 10 a.m., proceeding along Grand River Avenue.
• Ferndale: Parade starts at 10 a.m. on Livernois at West Breckenridge and heads north. Participants then march east on Maplehurst, south on Woodward, west on Nine  Mile, and south at Livernois, ending at the Memorial Mall in front of Fire Station No. 1.
• Grosse Pointe: Ceremony begins at 10 a.m. at the War Memorial, 32 Lakeshore Drr., with a Joint Service Color Guard and keynote addres by Lt. Col. Rolf  Mammen, a Selfridge Air National Guard Base maintenance group deputy commander. Nonresidents are welcome. Parking is free.
• Northville: VFW Post 4012 presents a 10 a.m. parade starting on Griswold at Northville Downs, proceeding west on Main Street to Hutton, to Dunlap, to south on Center to Cady, west on Cady, stopping at Oakwood Cemetery, then proceeding to First, Fairbrook and ending at noon at the Veterans' Memorial at Rural Hill Cemetery.
• Novi: Parade leaves at 10 a.m. from 10 Mile Road and Karim Boulevard, traveling west on 10 Mile to the Civic Center for a noon service near the Veterans' Memorial Marker in front of the Civic Center. 
• Rochester/Rochester Hills: at 9:15 a.m. in Mount Avon Cemetery, West Third and Wilcox in Rochester, are followed by 10 a.m. parade to Veterans Memorial Pointe, southeast corner of Avon and Livernois in Rochester Hills.
• Saline: Boy Scout Troop 416 hosts a pancake breakfast fund-raiser at the Saline Fire House, 8-10 a.m., before 10 a.m. parade from Harris Street to the cemetery.
• Troy: Half-hour starts at 11 a.m. at 500 W. Big Beaver.
• White Lake: Pancake Breakfast at the White Lake Inn, 3955 Ormond Rd., from 8:30-11:30 a.m., followed by noon flag-raising ceremony. Cost is $6 for adults and $3 for children, benefiting White Lake Citizens League Fireworks Fund.