TWO MILES OFsmiles SCS

Memorial Day Parade Celebrates 70th Anniversary

BY ANNA SWARTZ

Dave Ellis and his wife Barb, both Army veterans, bought their St. Clair Shores home before stepping foot inside it – or even within the city. While the home’s proximity to Lake St. Clair is what lured them to the city, they consider it a bonus to have found a community bursting with patriotism. One event the couple admires is the annual St. Clair Shores Memorial Day Parade, and this year Ellis is serving as the chair of the 70th anniversary event.

Flyovers by WWII Planes

The parade will be held on Sunday, May 28 at 1 p.m. with the pre-parade starting at 12:45 p.m., heading north on Jefferson Ave. between 9 and 11 Mile Roads. The parade committee refers to it as “two miles of smiles.” The event drew an estimated 50,000 attendees last year, and Ellis promises some surprises this year for the special anniversary event.

Some unique attractions for this year are not a secret, though. Flyovers are scheduled at the beginning of the parade: a B-25 Mitchell Bomber (the same plane used during the Dolittle Raid on Japan) and a Douglas C-47 Skytrain airplane famous for dropping more than 50,000 paratroopers before and during the Normandy D-Day invasion. Each of these rare planes date back to World War II; only about 100 of each are still flying.

Brought to You by Dedicated Volunteers

Paying for special features like this is why the parade committee, made up entirely of volunteers, diligently fundraises for the event. The $100 Club takes donations from individuals and businesses – those interested can email lindabertges@gmail.com or send a text to (248) 767-9961. The public is also invited to a spaghetti dinner fundraiser on Thursday, April 27, from 4-8 p.m., at Assumption Cultural Center. See more details on page 24.

“As far as we know, it’s the biggest Memorial Day Parade run entirely by volunteers – and that’s what makes it special,” Ellis says. “When does planning start for the next year's parade? Before the dust is on the stuff that we put away from last year. It's a year-round volunteer process that we do. We have 11 committee members, and then we desperately cannot put the parade on without the couple of dozen volunteers that just come and work for that weekend.”

Ellis adds that a tremendous amount of support is given by Mayor Kip Walby, as well as the city’s Fire, Police and Parks and Recreation Departments, and Macomb County Sheriff’s Office.

SCS’ Signature Event

Growing up on Alexander Street, Mayor Walby has fond memories of marching down the street and enjoying a BBQ on the day of the parade.

“I think the Memorial Day Parade is our signature event,” Walby says. “It’s a great day to remember our veterans and the people who continue to serve. I love the parade. I always have. People have come for decades. It’s part of their DNA.”

And while the crowds have always been consistently large, Ellis says that the entries have increased dramatically – from 37 in 2010 to more than 170 in 2022.

Groups that would like to be considered for the parade can send an email to parade@scsmi.net by May 1. Anyone interested in volunteering during parade weekend can contact Maria Galla at mariavgalla@gmail.com.