Guardian Angel Cemetery's Memorial Day Ceremony Honors Fallen Troops

In addition to honoring troops with its elaborate ,  in Oakland Township also played host to a Memorial Day ceremony Sunday that honored the nation's fallen troops, and especially the 188 members of the military who are buried at the cemetery.

"The service is just a remembrance of all the people who have gone before us and are buried in our cemetery," Guardian Angel Cemetery Director Wendy Mann said. "It's just a really nice way to honor all of our loved ones."

Master of Ceremonies John Modetz led the Service Honoring Military Veterans, which followed an outdoor mass. Both services took place next to the Field of Honor at the cemetery on Rochester Road.

The Rev. Dwayne Kelsey of St. Paul Methodist Church delivered the invocation and members of the Rochester-Utica VFW Post 3908 ceremoniously assembled the military cross, then raised and lowered the flag to half staff.

"Basically, what it does is honor men and women who have given their lives for this country," said Jeff Cooper, a Vietnam veteran and member of Rochester-Utica VFW Post 3908.

Cooper said Memorial Day is not for him or his fellow VFW members, but instead "for the individuals who have died for this country."

Rochester Hills Mayor Bryan Barnett delivered a speech honoring the nation's fallen troops, and his wife, Corrin Barnett, sang the national anthem and God Bless America. Before Barnett's speech, a WWII Vultee Valiant Navy Trainer airplane flew over the cemetery.

"Memorial Day is just one of those days when you really have to stop and sort of check yourself to make sure you're taking time to think about what it really means," Barnett said before the ceremony. "Make sure you go up and say thank you – it's sort of the very least you could do."

Keynote speaker Ed Leafdale, a Vietnam veteran and member of VFW Post 3908, delivered an emotional speech commending the men and women of the military who have died serving their country.

"It came to me that they are in God's Army, and with God's grace, he will shield them for eternity," Leafdale said during his speech.

VFW members executed a 21-gun salute and performed Taps after Leafdale's speech, and members of the Ladies Auxiliary, who represented the VFW, American Legion and Disabled American Veterans, solemnly placed wreaths beneath the flag.

Debra Malson, mother of , who died in combat in Baghdad in 2005, attended the service and was recognized during the benediction for her son's sacrifice. Malson is interred in Guardian Angel Cemetery.

"We just miss him," Malson said. "We're proud of what he did."

Adam Malson was killed Feb. 19, 2005, when an improvised explosive device detonated while he was on patrol in Baghdad. He was 23.

Debra Malson said this Memorial Day weekend is "a sad weekend" because Adam could not attend his younger brother's wedding Saturday.

"We got a little memorial set up for him," she said. "I would have loved for him to meet her, but he was there in spirit."