16 | SEPTEMBER 7 • 2023 

donated engraved brick pavers. 
Reading the inscriptions is like 
taking a walk back in time; you 
get an overwhelming sense of 
the history and awe that is our 
Greatest Generation.
A bronze statue, affectionate-
ly referred to as “Joe,
” depicts 
an Army soldier in a war zone 
far from home, reading a letter 
from his parents. Among sever-
al other statues still to come will 
be that soldier’s parents intently 
listening to a radio broadcast 
that is updating them on the 
war effort. 
You could feel the emotion 
among those in attendance as 
the armed forces medley blared 
over the speakers. The songs 
accompanied uniformed rep-
resentatives from each branch 
of the military who raised their 
respective flags for the first time 
on the towering new flag poles 
that stand guard over Phase I. 
That spirit of patriotism 
reached an even greater cre-
scendo when each of the WWII 
veterans and Rosie the Riveters 
in attendance were individually 
introduced.

WELCOME TO PHASE I
In his opening remarks, Maten 

emphasized the historical “con-
nections” the memorial rep-
resents. He referenced the sol-
dier reading a letter from home 
as capturing the emotional con-
nection between those in harm’s 
way with their loved ones.
“There is also the connec-
tion that this memorial helps 
to make across generations,
” 
said Maten. “
As we laid down 
the engraved brick pavers in 
the Walk of Honor, we could 
read the stories of the Greatest 
Generation. As we watched 
people find the bricks of their 
loved ones, we saw the emo-
tions swell and the memories 
come to life. But you don’t even 
have to know the person on the 
bricks to still feel a connection 
to them.
”
That connection resonated 
with each and every speaker on 
the stage, including Oakland 
County Executive Dave 
Coulter, Michigan Secretary 
of State Jocelyn Benson, U.S. 
Congresswoman Debbie 
Dingell, Royal Oak Mayor 
Pro Tem Melanie Macy, and 
Michigan Veterans Affairs 
Agency Director Adam Hollier.
Each spoke with overwhelm-
ing passion about the need to 
continue the mission of the 
memorial. They reminded us 
that it’s incumbent upon us to 
continue to seek out and share 
our Michigan WWII veterans’ 
and Rosie the Riveters’ stories 
so their service and sacrifice is 
never forgotten. 
A case in point was Cliff 
Alvira, a 98-year-old veteran of 
the Normandy D-Day landing 
who shared his story with Fox 
2’s Rich Luterman for a story 
to air on that evening’s news. 
“What do you recall about 
Omaha Beach?” Luterman 
asked. “Oh, it was horrible, 
I didn’t even tell my parents 
when I got home,
” said Cliff. 
“It’s something you don’t tell 
people, keep it to yourself. And 
I did keep it to myself for about 
30 years.
” 

OUR COMMUNITY

Guests view the Walk of Honor.

Rep. Debbie Dingel shares 
a lighthearted moment with 
emcee Rich Luterman as 
Art Fishman looks on.

Art Fishman with 
Frances Masters, 
an original Rosie 
the Riveter.

continued from page 15

JIM HOUSE
JIM HOUSE

JIM HOUSE

