Dearborn Hosting In-Person Memorial Day Events In 2021

DEARBORN, MI — Dearborn is hosting a pair of Memorial Day events in person on May 30, while its annual parade has been canceled for the second year in a row.

In 2021, a remembrance ceremony will be followed by a concert at 7:30 p.m. on May 30. Both events are open to the public and will be presented at the Veterans Park and War Memorial in front of the Henry Ford Centennial Library, 16301 Michigan Ave.

People interested in attending have been asked by the city to bring their own lawn chairs and follow COVID-19 safety protocols.

The Sunday night remembrance ceremony will be in conjunction with the Dearborn Allied War Veterans Council, Dearborn’s longtime partner in hosting Memorial Day events. World War II veterans will receive special acknowledgement during the ceremony.

Concert includes march written for Dearborn WWII soldier

A 60-minute concert will be performed by the Motor City Brass Band, led by musical director and conductor Craig Strain. The premiere of a concert march composed in honor of Staff Sgt. Robert A. Godfrey, who died in World War II and is one of Dearborn’s 347 fallen heroes, will also take place.

The concert march was composed by Sandor Hendriks, a musician who lives in The Netherlands and who cares for Godfrey’s grave in a military cemetery in that country, according to the city.

The MCBB will also be playing American Salute, God Bless the USA, Midway March and the Armed Forces Salute.

347 luminaries honor Dearborn’s War Dead

A part of the Sunday night commemoration will be the lighting of 347 luminaries lining the border of the Veterans Park and War Memorial, representing Dearborn’s 347 fallen soldiers from WWI, WWII, Korea and Vietnam.

Dearborn’s patriotic tradition

The May 30 program will stand in for Dearborn’s Memorial Day Parade, which was canceled due to safety concerns related to COVID-19. The parade has been presented for 95 years but was canceled in 2020 and 2021.