APRIL 28 • 2022 | 17

ON THE COVER

said, “I am keenly aware of
the significance of the sacri-
fices made by all members of
the Greatest Generation. My
parents served — my father in
uniform and my mother on the
home front.”
“The task now,
” Schenk said,
“is keeping those memories
alive, which now falls to my
generation and those who will
follow. The Michigan World
War II Legacy Memorial in
Memorial Park in Royal Oak
is Michigan’s sacred space for
all to visit and learn about the
contributions of Michigan’s sons
and daughters.
”
Schenk said being at the April
7 groundbreaking with mem-
bers of the Jewish community
was especially important since
their planned 75th anniversary
observance of the end of WWII
in November 2020 was canceled
due to the pandemic. “
At last,
we have closure, so the daring
feats and contributions of these
brave men and women will not
be forgotten. With this memo-
rial, we will have a permanent
place in our community for
all to reflect and remember.
Indeed, time shall not dim the
glory of their deeds.
”

MENSCH
METEOROLOGIST
I had the privilege of intro-
ducing Rich Luterman, chief
meteorologist at Fox 2 Detroit,
himself a Jewish war veteran,
U.S. Air Force, as the master of
ceremonies. Luterman, served
four and a half years on active
duty as a weather officer. For
six months in 1991, he was a
weather detachment command-
er in Southwest Asia during
Operation Desert Storm.
In conversations I had
with him in the weeks lead-
ing up to his emceeing the
groundbreaking, Luterman’s
enthusiasm for the event was

palpable. “I was so honored
and humbled to be able to
say that I was a part of this
historic groundbreaking,” he
said. “
As a proud veteran, I am
in awe of those who served in
desperate times and sacrificed
so much for our nation.”

GRAND ENTRANCE
Arguably the emotional high-
light of the afternoon’s presen-
tation, was Luterman’s intro-
duction of WWII veterans and
original “Rosie the Riveters”
— among them seven Jewish
War Veterans, at least two of
whom were just a few months
shy of their 100th birthdays.
Huddled out of the audi-
ence’s sight at the beginning of
the program, each WWII vet-
eran was given his own dra-
matic introduction, including
recognition of the branch of

service in which he served.
Upon hearing their names
called, they appeared from
behind a set of bleachers.
Bundled up and braving the
slightly inclement weather,
some aided by walkers and
wheelchairs, they made their
way, one by one, onto the
grounds of the memorial site.
These proud members of
our Greatest Generation were
greeted by cheers as volunteers
from the Michigan chapter
of the Sons of the American
Revolution and the Red,
White and Blue Star Mothers
(MI-198, Troy) escorted them
through a row of American
flags to their seats.
Said Luterman: “To intro-
duce and recognize the men
and women who saved our
world from tyranny and sacri-
ficed so much for our nation

is something I will cherish for
the rest of my life.”

LEVIN BRINGS
NATIONAL SUPPORT
The irony of addressing those
who helped save the world
from a tyrannical leader, as
the war in Ukraine rages on,
was not lost on Congressman
Andy Levin. Leading up to his
presenting a Congressional
Record proclamation to
memorial board president
John Maten, an impassioned
Levin turned and directly
addressed the WWII veter-
ans and original “Rosie the
Riveters” in the audience.
“You WWII veterans,
Rosies, all of you … We all lit-
erally look to what you accom-
plished, what you sacrificed,

“I AM KEENLY AWARE OF THE SIGNIFICANCE
OF THE SACRIFICES MADE BY ALL MEMBERS

OF THE GREATEST GENERATION. ”

— JWV CHIEF OF STAFF DONALD SCHENK

continued on page 18

JWV WWII veterans Art
Fishman and Marty Myers
being escorted into the
ceremony.

JIM HOUSE, WINDING TRAIL PHOTOGRAPHY