FERNDALE, Mich. – This Memorial Day a Ferndale group is asking citizens to consider honoring fallen servicemen and women by walking with them in its Memorial Day parade.
Just show up, grab a sign and march.
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The group, called the Michigan Fallen Foot Float, was started by Larry Saville 10 years ago. In the newspaper he saw pictures of Michigan servicemen and women who were killed serving our country.
Saville thought it was a nice gesture, but could be more grandiose. That’s when the Michigan Fallen Foot Float was born. Large posters with the pictures of fallen soldiers are carried down the street every Memorial Day.
"It's for the families of the loved ones (who have fallen), to let them know they're not forgotten; that they haven't just disappeared," Saville said. "It's our privilege to do that."
Saville said volunteers march in the parade with a poster in hand and usually with a mixture of joyous and somber emotions. But there is overwhelming pride, he said.
"Along the parade route you see the people respond. People stand up, they applaud, they salute," Saville said. "I always tell people that walk in the parade they might want to bring a pair of sunglasses, because it's not the sun that bothers you."
The Michigan Fallen Foot Float honored those killed in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Saville said they honor those either born, raised or relocated to Michigan. Every poster created has a picture and name, age, rank, branch of military, the conflict, the year they died and their hometown.
When the project started there were 180 fallen servicemen or women to be honored. Ten years later, the number is up to 261. That's where the group needs help -- they don't have enough volunteers to carry all the posters.
Saville said they have been asking volunteers to carry multiple posters, but in his opinion it's more symbolic to have enough people.
"The idea is to carry one sign per person. It's more respectful that way," Saville said. "It doesn't seem impossible to me. In a state as big as our state, or a city as big as our city, it seems like it's the least thing we can do, to say that, 'I'm carrying your son,' or 'I'm carrying your daughter.' It looks so much more respectful."
All volunteers need to do is arrive to the Ferndale Memorial Day Parade a little early and choose a poster to carry.
To volunteer, please contact Larry Saville by calling 248-397-8065. You can also email the group at Ferndalefootfloat@gmail.com.
For more information on the Michigan Fallen Foot Float, visit www.mifallenfootfloat.com. You can also watch this YouTube video.