Small town America says thanks

Today is memorial day and one of the best days of the year in Milford, Michigan - the quintessential small town America. Today at 11 AM I will be marching through town with hundreds of other Vets, as we celebrate those who served their country in the military. For many in Milford, it is their favorite parade of the year (we have three major parades - Memorial Day, The Forth of July and the Christmas Parade - as well as several minor parades for things like the Little League, the High School Homecoming, and Halloween. The parades and the various festivals that we have during the year all result in Main St being blocked off for a few hours or a few days (the Milford Memories festival lasts for three days. It's all quite Mayberry RFD-like and I wouldn't change a thing. This is small town America at its best.

In addition to the veterans, there will be military vehicles, with many older Vets riding down Main St in jeeps or other vehicles; as well as fly-overs by war planes of all vintages from modern jets to WWII bombers to trainers. The parade route is lined by thousands of people who come from all over to stand and applaud as the vets march by, many with "Thank You" signs. As a Viet Nam vet, I can tell you that these parades are the only welcome or thanks that those of us who went over there ever got and it does feel good.

So, if you don't have other plans, come on out to Milford this morning and watch our parade. If you're a vet yourself, join in, the parade is open to all vets. There is always a short ceremony at the end of the parade down in Central Park at the War Memorial. Out parade has grown and been successful largely through the efforts of Joe Salvia from the local American Legion post. This years parade will also be filmed as part of a documentary, “Detroit, Our Greatest Generation,” a one-hour, prime time commercial-free special on the sacrifices and contributes from World War II veterans.

The documentary, by the Emmy Award-winning Visionalist Entertainment Productions, is expected to air in December on WDIV, Channel 4. It will include historic footage of World War II, personal accounts and in-depth interviews with veterans. So, who knows maybe you'll get in a shot that's used in the film. See you there - I'll wave as I march by.