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