Annual parade, ceremony to highlight Memorial Day

Memorial Day 2015 in Tecumseh continues a tradition of recognizing those citizens who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. Parade Marshal Gary Naugle has organized a morning of activity beginning at 9:40 a.m. with the wreath placement at Tecumseh City Hall.The Memorial Day Parade begins at 10 a.m. and travels west on Chicago Boulevard from City Hall to Union Street, and then north to Brookside Cemtery. World War II planes will fly over the festivities, weather permitting.Those interested in seeing the planes up close can visit Al Meyers Airport before the festivities. The planes arrive at the airport between 8 a.m. and 8:30 a.m.“We have seventy-eight to eighty-four groups participating in the parade,” Naugle said.Tecumseh High School’s marching band will provide music. Also marching in the parade is a group of bagpipers as well as the Plymouth Fife and Drum Corps.“We’re pretty lucky to have Plymouth Fife and Drum Corps come to participate in the parade,” said Naugle.The National Guard units from Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor will march in the parade, as will the Lenawee Sheriff’s Mounted Division. World War II vehicles will also travel the parade route.It has long been a goal of Naugle to get local children involved in the Memorial Day Parade. This year, kids are invited to decorate their bicycles and ride them in the parade. Partici-pants need to meet at Tecumseh Middle School by 9 a.m. Those riding their bikes in the parade will receive a certificate of participation.“We have had two hundred children sign up to ride in the parade,” Naugle said. “We want as many kids as we can to ride the parade route.”The cemetery service at Brookside begins with 2014 Tecumseh High School graduate Wade Ondrovick singing God Bless America. Ondrovick will also sing the national anthem.“He’s a great singer,” said Naugle.A special presentation will be made by Capt. Phil Klintworth, United States Navy (retired). University of Michigan Navy ROTC Honor Guards will conduct the dedication of flags.“We’ll be honoring two veterans this year, Specialist E4 Ralph A. Morton and Lieutenant Colonel William R. Groover, Jr.,” Naugle said.Morton was a member of Company C, 2nd Battalion, 28th Infantry, 1st Division and served his country in Vietnam in the Big Red One. Morton won a Silver Star for leading an ambush patrol northeast of Phu Loi.During a fire fight that continued for several hours, Morton’s courage and initiative was instrumental in limiting friendly casualties and contributed to winning the battle.Commissioned a lieutenant, Groover entered the service in September 1942, serving with the 845 Bomb Squadron, 491 Bomb Group, 14th combat wing of the 8th Army Air Force. While based in England, Groover piloted a B24 on 27 combat missions over Central Europe.His group attacked targets to support the D-Day landings in early June 1994, including storage depots, oil refineries, communication centers industrial areas, shipyards, and Nazi General Headquarters. They helped contain the German break through the Battle of the Bulge, and also flew in support of Allied forces in the break out of St. Lo and helped with airborne troops in Holland.The 491st received a Disting-uished Unit Citation for its actions in 1944.The men and women honored every year during the cemetery service are suggested to Naugle by people in the community. He relies on suggestions to honor local citizens who have served the United States during war time.The cemetery service generally lasts for 30 minutes. “We have plenty of chairs for people who need to sit,” Naugle said. “The service is very moving.”The Lions Club will be passing out carnations for people to put on veterans’ graves at Brookside. Flags on veterans’ graves are placed by the American Legion on the Saturday or Sunday before Memorial Day.

Tecumseh Herald

 

110 E. Logan St.
P.O. Box 218
Tecumseh, MI 49286
517-423-2174
800-832-6443

Email Us

FacebookTwitter

Latest articles

Please Login for Premium Content