December 6, 2010 Article by: Joni Hubred-Golden
After placing wreaths at the monument, onlookers listen to comments from American Legion Groves-Walker Post Commander Jarrett Lott at Farmington's Memorial Park Saturday. new
After placing wreaths at the monument, onlookers listen to comments from American Legion Groves-Walker Post Commander Jarrett Lott at Farmington's Memorial Park Saturday.
A small group of people honor falling soldiers by placing wreaths at the War Memorial in Farmington's Memorial Park on Saturday. Cara Whinnery prepares to place a wreath at the memorial. Named Miss Spirit in the 2010 Miss Farmington pageant, she is pictured with American Legion Groves-Walker Post Commander Jarrett Lott. As American Legion Groves-Walker Post Chaplain Wally Christensen looks on, Farmington Mayor Tom Buck shares his thoughts about the ceremony.
After placing wreaths at the monument, onlookers listen to comments from American Legion Groves-Walker Post Commander Jarrett Lott at Farmington's Memorial Park Saturday.
Three evergreen wreaths were placed in Memorial Park Saturday to honor all of Farmington's fallen soldiers. The annual tradition drew a small crowd to the Farmington War Memorial, which is set atop a concrete platform near the corner of Grand River and Oakland Street.
The patriotic gesture had American Legion Groves-Walker Post #346 Past Commander Gerald Lynch thinking about one special, fallen friend. Lynch said Post member Len Kawecki, a U.S. Army veteran who served during the Korean War, died a year ago. A Past Commander at the Farmington post, as well as Beaudry Post in Detroit, Kawecki was a big athletics booster for his alma mater, Wayne State University, Lynch said. "He set up a yearly fund for (Groves-Walker Post) members to win a chance to have their dues paid," Lynch said, explaining that the drawing was designed to encourage members to get their dues in on time. "He had a real dry sense of humor," Lynch added.
The monument lists the names of Farmington soldiers who gave their lives in the Civil War, the Spanish-American War and World War I. It was dedicated in 1923. Farmington Mayor Tom Buck, who spoke during the event, also had another soldier on his mind. He shared a story about a recent University of Michigan graduate who chose service to his country in the Air Force, rather than go on to law school. "It just is so impressive to see a young man that picks that up and takes that responsibility," Buck said. "He's a young man, like of all you have, who have served that makes us feel safer."