VE Day 70th Anniversary Celebration – Thank You

Remembering Victory In Europe: An Evening of Reflection, Thanks and Fun

The Michigan WWII Legacy Memorial extends deep gratitude to the following individuals and organizations that made this special event possible:

• City of Royal Oak for providing land that will bear the memorial and for the flag that graced it on this day. We especially want to thank Greg Rassel, Director Recreation and of Public Services.
• The Yankee Air Museum who provided the glorious Yankee Lady B-17 Flyover. We especially want to thank Dave Callahan for coordinating all activities relative to the flyover.
• Ed Burkhardt for coordinating the unfurling presentation of our 30 by 60 foot American flag and state of Michigan flag.
• L. Brooks Paterson, Oakland County Executive.
• The  Berkley High School Symphony Band. We especially want to thank Director Alan Posner.
• The students of the freshman class Berkley High School for handing out flyers and holding the flag. We especially want to thank Jennifer Simone and Angie Church for coordinating all aspects of their participation.
• Royal Oak High School Business Professionals Club for assisting with parking, handing out flyers and holding the flag.
• Henri Nussbaum, member of French Forces of the Interior, F.F.I., part of the French Resistance, participant in victory parades in Paris.
• Patriot Guard Riders, American Legion Post 108 Riders and American Legion Post 253 Riders
• Piquette Square Honor Guard. We especially want to thank Ron Mexicott for his leadership.
• Boy Scout Troop #1629, Cub Scout Troop #1604 and Cub Scout Troop #1607
• Rocket Enterprises for providing the state of Michigan Flag
• Duffey Petrosky for press release and signage
• DaVita Starrwood Dialysis for use of their parking log
• Bruce White Galleries for providing the thank you card
• 2nd Lt. William Rosnyai, B-17 Navigator , WWII
• Harold Lanning WWII Veteran, for singing the National Anthem
• Rosie the Riveters, Michigan Chapter
• “Tribute” Rosie the Riveters
• Eric Richardson (Michigan Military Vehicle Club), Dan Kurkowski for their historic Vehicles
• Dave Neary and crew for his reenactors
• Our “Mess hall” Food trucks – Dago Joe’s, Sugar Magnolia’s, Shimmy Shack
• The Ezra Parker DAR chapter for their recreated Red Cross Comfort Station
• The Michigan Military Technical and Historical Society for prizes
• The Ira Kaufman Chapel, Sawyer – Fuller Funeral Home, Hebrew Memorial Chapel, Wm. Sullivan & Son Funeral Directors, A.J. Desmond & Sons Funeral Directors for providing chairs.
• Sue and Pat Bouchard for picking up and delivering chairs.
• Chris Held and Gary Priskorn for assisting with statue delivery
• Our photographers – Kathy Dorsey, Evelyn and Dennis Kensicki, Shelly Maro and Jeanine Mangini