Fallen war heroes were remembered at the annual Royal Oak Memorial Day parade Monday. Under near perfect conditions, with bright sunshine and temperatures in the low 60s for the morning procession, which marched north along Main Street before ending at Centennial Commons Park where a ceremony was held honoring all branches of the military and city residents who died in service.
An unidentified Boy Scout hands out flags on Main Street in downtown Royal Oak Monday morning. (JEFF PAYNE–For MediaNews Group)
Organizers honored the Potter family, whose five sons served in World War II. They made particular note of Radioman Third Class Leonard Neal Potter, the youngest son of William and Mildred Potter, who lived on Oakdale Street. He attended St. Mary Catholic School Royal Oak in Royal Oak before dying in battle in 1944.
The Grand Marshal was James L. Converse, an Ohio native who enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1951. During the Korean War, he served in Alaska after completing training in Colorado and California. He was responsible for maintaining cold weather defense equipment in extreme Arctic conditions. He received the National Defense Service Medal in 1954. Converse moved to Royal Oak with his wife, Mary, in 1963, raised nine children, owned Converse Business Forms, volunteered extensively at The National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica, coached youth sports, and remains active with the church’s Resurrection Choir.
— MediaNews Group
The Royal Oak High School Marching Band provided the sounds at the Memorial Day parade Monday. (JEFF PAYNE–For MediaNews Group)
Girl Scouts were among those marching along the parade route Monday. (JEFF PAYNE–For MediaNews Group)
A young girl flashes a smile as marchers proceed from Main Street on to Third Street Monday morning. (JEFF PAYNE–For MediaNews Group)