JUNE 29 • 2023 | 23
Memorial Day Parade
The Jewish War Veterans (JWV),
Department of Michigan, were front
and center, literally, at this year’s Royal
Oak Memorial Day Parade. Members
of the JWV, Ladies Auxiliary and JWV
Color Guard were the first group to
march down Main Street at 9 a.m.
Just ahead of them was the
incomparable Art Fishman, 96, JWV
Post 510, and JWV Senior Vice
Commander Emeritus, this year’s
Grand Marshal, his second such
assignment in the last eight months.
Last November, the Navy veteran
of WWII was the Grand Marshal
of Detroit’s Annual Veterans Day
Parade, and that came on the heels
of Fishman being namd the 2022
Veteran of the Year by the Michigan
Commanders Group.
Fishman received a hero’s reception
from the large crowds of applauding
men, women and children that lined
downtown Royal Oak. Art applauded
and saluted right back during the
entire length of the parade route that
stretched down Main Street from
Lincoln Avenue to 11 Mile Road.
Dr. Ed Adler, Senior Vice
JWV - GENERATION
TO GENERATION
Two current members of
the Jewish War Veterans,
Department of Michigan were
also among those who hon-
ored the suggestion to engage
younger generations in the
JWV Memorial Day weekend
activities.
Mark Manson and retired
Dr. Ed Adler are both Army
veterans and sons of WWII
veterans. Both gentlemen have
also proudly represented the
JWV-MI by their participa-
tion in local Naturalization
Ceremonies.
Manson, Post 474, is the JWV-MI’s
historian and president of the organiza-
tion’s Memorial Home. He and his wife,
Marcia, brought their 11-year-old grand-
son Ethan to both Memorial Day services
at Machpelah Cemetery and Hebrew
Memorial Park on Sunday, May 28.
Adler is an Army veteran. On
Memorial Day, he was accompanied by
and marched with his wife, adult sons
and his 6-year-old grandson in Royal
Oak’s Annual Memorial Day Parade. The
parade also featured 96-year-old JWV Art
Fishman, who was this year’s honored
Grand Marshal. (See below.)
Mark Manson regularly
engages his grandson Ethan
in the history of the mili-
tary and most recently went
on a field trip with him to
Michigan’s Hero Museum in
Frankenmuth.
Of his visits with Ethan to
Machpelah Cemetery and
Hebrew Memorial Park,
Manson said: “I wanted him to
see the graves, the solemnity of
it. It’s important for us to make
sure future generations know
and honor the sacrifices that
were made on our behalf.”
Memorial Day is now in our
review mirrors, but American flags will
fly proudly again as our nation prepares
to celebrate its 246th birthday on July
4, yet another opportunity to pause and
reflect on the gratitude that is our free-
dom and remember those who have pre-
served it.
Mark Manson and his grandson Ethan at Hebrew Memorial Park.
Dr. Ed Adler marches with his family during the Royal Oak Memorial Day Parade.
continued on page 24