Admiral To Lead Dearborn's Memorial Day Parade

From The City of Dearborn: The city of Dearborn and the Dearborn Allied War Veterans Council (DAWVC) on Memorial Day will once again pay tribute to those who lost their lives in service to our country. Dearborn’s 93rd Annual Memorial Day Parade will kick off at 10 a.m. on Monday, May 29.

The theme of the parade this year is “Women in the Military.” The grand marshal will be Rear Admiral June E. Ryan, the Ninth Coast Guard District Commander for the Great Lakes and Saint Lawrence Seaway. For the second year in a row, the parade will step off on Michigan Avenue at Maple Street near the site of City Hall Artspace Lofts, head west and then end at Henry Ford Centennial Library.

The traditional solemn Remembrance Ceremony will take place at about noon, and for the first time be at the new Veterans Park and War Memorial in front of Centennial Library. “It is a great honor to be selected as this year’s Grand Marshal and have the privilege to pay special tribute, and honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice serving this great nation,” said Rear Admiral Ryan.

She will lead the parade, and then give keynote remarks at the solemn ceremony. “We are pleased to have Rear Admiral Ryan as our grand marshal to help us focus on the service, sacrifices and accomplishments of women serving across all branches of the military,” says Mayor John B. O’Reilly Jr.

Rear Admiral Ryan previously served as military advisor to the secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, and was the third woman in history to serve as military aide to the president of the United States. After enlisting in the Coast Guard in 1982, she quickly rose through the ranks, and became the first woman to move up from junior enlisted to flag officer before graduating from Officer Candidate School.

Since then, she has been stationed around the country, including posts in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, the Pacific Area, and Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, D.C. Rear Admiral Ryan has also been stationed aboard ships such as the Cape Morgan out of Portland, Maine; the Neah Baby out of Cleveland, Ohio; and the Gallatin out of New York, New York.

“I am proud to represent the men, and, in a special way, the women, currently serving in today’s military,” said Ryan. “Their pride and patriotism attracted them to the military; their sense of honor and steadfast devotion to duty has sustained them throughout their service.”

Image Courtesy The City of Dearborn