The Grosse Pointe War Memorial honors the men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to the nation on Monday, May 27.

The special Memorial Day Service begins at 10 a.m. on the lakeside lawn with the Selfridge Honor Guard, Selfridge Air National Guard Base. Colonel Victoria Reardon, Michigan Joint Forces Headquarters Staff Judge Advocate, will give the keynote address.

Residents of all communities are invited to the Memorial Day Service. There is no charge to attend. The Grosse Pointe War Memorial, located at 32 Lakeshore Drive in Grosse Pointe Farms just east of Fisher Road. Parking is free.

Col. Reardon is the Michigan Joint Forces Headquarters senior attorney (Judge Advocate) for the Air component. Officers serving as lawyers in the military are called Judge Advocates. During her active duty career, and as a member of the Air National Guard, Col. Reardon has deployed in support of war effort contingency operations in support of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and has engaged directly in military operations as a judge advocate to provide legal advice to senior commanders and warfighters. She has also deployed to remote locations around the world providing direct support for non-traditional multinational operations and rule of law mission engagements in furtherance of U. S. national security and foreign policy objectives, and has provided professional legal education and training to international military officers and civilian government officials.

Music will be provided by community talents The Forum Shoppers, Joe Armijo, Dave Pas, Harrison Krasner, Heather Albrecht and the Pierce Middle School students, and bagpiper Mary Beth Nicholson.

Again this year, a Memorial Labyrinth will be held on the back lawn for the community to reflect after the service. From a distance the labyrinth appears to be an American flag, lined with bags of red, white, and blue with white stars. Participants can write an intention, or the name of a veteran or active duty loved one to carry through the meditative walk and place it in a helmet at the center for ceremonial burning after the event concludes. The labyrinth is constructed by Norma Housey, whose daughter is an officer in the Air Force; and sponsored by the Ed Lazar Agency, Inc. State Farm. Ed Lazar is a GPWM board member whose son serves as a combat medic with the 82nd Airborne division of the Army.

The Honorable James C. Farquhar, Mayor of the City of Grosse Pointe Farms, will present the Gold Star Honor Roll

The Memorial Day Service is traditionally observed by hundreds of residents and includes participants of all ages represented by members of the nation’s armed forces, local scout troops, community volunteers and veterans’ organizations. The service is patriotic, colorful, musical, and inspiring. Most importantly, the Memorial Day Service serves as a somber reminder of those who gave their lives, making the ultimate sacrifice, so that we could live in freedom.

Veterans of all wars are honored and specifically include Grosse Pointers from WWII, Korea, Vietnam and present-day Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts. Many of the elements of the service are specific to honoring the military and are rarely enjoyed by non-military families. These include the tolling of the bell for those that have died in conflict; a rifle salute by the V.F.W. Bruce Post 1146 Ritual Firing Team; the playing of Taps; advancing, placing and retiring the colors by the Selfridge Honor Guard.

The Memorial Day services enjoy the greatest level of community support. Groups participating include the Selfridge Honor Guard, Grosse Pointe American Legion Post 303, Knights of Columbus 1795, VFW Bruce Post 1146 Ritual Firing Team, Boy Scout Troop 86, Boy Scout Troop 96, Boy Scout Troop 229, Jr. Girl Scout Troop 70426, Jr. Girl Scout Troop 75082, Daughters of the American Revolution, Louisa St. Clair Chapter, and the Grosse Pointe War Memorial Veterans Club.

 The Grosse Pointe War Memorial

The Grosse Pointe War Memorial is located at 32 Lakeshore Drive in Grosse Pointe. There is lighted and free parking. Residents of all communities are welcome.

The Grosse Pointe War Memorial is an exceptional community resource. It serves an estimated 200,000 individuals with more than 2,000 functions annually that include dance, art, music, theater, health and personal enrichment and a multitude of children’s and youth programs.

The main building, constructed in 1910 on the shores of Lake St. Clair, is the former home of the Russell Alger family. It is designated as a state and national historic site and serves as a living memorial honoring Grosse Pointe residents who have served in the armed forces. As a 501(c)3 charitable organization, the War Memorial receives no tax-dollar support and relies on voluntary contributions to carry out its mission.

In the image above, Senior Master Sgt. Mark Kaufmann (left), 127th Civil Engineeer Squadron, and members of the Selfridge Air National Guard Base 127th Wing Honor Guard wait for pre-race festivities to kick off before the Chevrolet GRAND-AM 200 race at the Belle Isle Grand Prix last year. Official U.S. Air Force photo by Angela Pope.