Dearborn’s 85th Annual Memorial Day Parade
If you’re planning to attend Dearborn’s 85th annual Memorial Day Parade beginning at 10 a..m. Monday you’ll need to find a parking site other than the former Montgomery Ward store. Unlike past years, parking will not be available at the southeast corner of Michigan and Schaefer.
The Dearborn War Memorial at City Hall.
However, plenty of free parking can be found in the public lot located near the northwest corner of Michigan and Schaefer (north side of Michigan Avenue, where the former Kroger supermarket was located). Access to that lot is available off of Schaefer.
To get to this lot, the city is advising drivers to travel south on Schaefer from Ford Road. Drivers will not be able to cross Michigan Avenue to reach the parking lot if they are traveling north on Schaefer.
Serving as Parade grand marshal will be Michael E. Thornton, a retired United States Navy SEAL, a veteran of the Vietnam War and a Medal of Honor recipient. Also participating are Dearborn’s many veterans’ organizations, school bands, youth groups, community service organizations, and special floats from The Parade Company. There also will be a flyover by a F-18 fighter aircraft.
To make Dearborn’s 85th parade possible, a special thanks goes out to the many generous sponsors.
“It would be very challenging to hold an event on the scale that Dearborn does without the leaders in our business community who step up to the plate and make such a strong commitment to this effort,” said Gary Tanner, commander of the Dearborn Allied War Veterans Council. “Their help is a key factor in our conducting one of America’s best-known tributes to our fallen service men and women.”
The Parade’s sponsors include: Dearborn Federal Savings Bank; Dearborn Rotary Foundation, which is sponsoring the special “Let Freedom Ring” float; ACO Hardware; Lafontaine Motors, Inc.; HAP Alliance Plan of Michigan; East Dearborn Downtown Development Authority; Dearborn resident Brian O’Donnell; Henry Ford Medical Center Fairlane / emergency room; Hyatt Regency Dearborn; and Dearborn Outer Drive Kiwanis and Dearborn High Key Club.
Also providing support for the parade and ceremony are Park Place, Andiamo, Bianco Tours, Kroger at Michigan and Greenfield, The Henry Ford, The Dearborn Inn, Dennis Lark, Julie Pucci, Exchange Club, Kiwanis of Outer Drive, Eppinger, Les Stanford Chevrolet, Jack Demmer Lincoln Mercury and WestbornChrysler Plymouth Jeep.
Following the Parade, the City’s official remembrance service takes place at the Dearborn War Memorial, located on the grounds of Dearborn City Hall, and then concludes with a free outdoor concert by the Rackham Ensemble Singers. The group will be performing on an outdoor stage in City Hall Park, singing a variety of songs made famous during the “boogie woogie” era. Also being planned for City Hall Park are food and beverages for sale (including cold beer, sales of which benefit veterans’ causes), the chance to buy raffle tickets to win a new motorcycle and displays of military vehicles and exhibits from the U.S. Navy.
The Parade route is Michigan Avenue from Firestone to Schaefer in east Dearborn.
May 24th, 2009 at 7:28 pm
Just like to point out that with all the Dearborn-bashing that so many seem to love to indulge in, this is one more reason to be proud of Dearborn. 85 years is a heck of a long time for any City tradition to continue! There have been many, many changes in Dearborn during the past 85 years. It is the “constants”–like the parade– that are the heart and soul of this city.
Thank you to all the Dearborn businesses, civic clubs, and citizens that have made this years parade possible through their support.
More importantly, thank to all of you, past and present, who have served in our armed forces, and kept my family, my neighborhood, my city, and my country safe for the past 85+ years.
Mary Ray, Campbell’s Paint
May 25th, 2009 at 5:49 am
Great comment Mary and I would also like to add my thank you to all the men and women who fought for our freedom.
May 26th, 2009 at 9:08 am
I attended the parade on Monday, as I and my family have for the last 30 years, and I left wondering what happened. The Parade was 45 minutes shorter that most previous years, and seemed to be missing many, many groups that were always in attendance previously. Was I the only one who felt this way, or did anyone else notice this as well? The parade is one of things I love best about Dearborn, and has always been a point of pride for most of us living here. I am curious as to what the difference was this year- a sign of the economy, or lack of help with inviting and booking groups to participate in the parade? I am heartsick over the thought of this wonderful institution of ours dwindling down to nothing and disappearing in a few years. Does anyone know who plans the parade and/or invites participants? I would be more than happy to volunteer my time over the next year to restore this parade back to its original state. Just some thoughts on trying to help….