Memorial Day Parade 2011

Once again, the Glacier Area Homeowners Association and the Ann Arbor Breakfast Optimist Club will sponsor the longest running Memorial Day Parade in Ann Arbor. All are welcome at the parade, regardless of whether you live within the GAHA neighborhood or not. See you there!

Date: Monday May 30, 2011
Time: Parade leaves from Greenbrier Park at 10 AM

For over twenty-five years, our neighborhood association has honored our Michigan service men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice- the gift of their lives- in service to our country. A short remembrance ceremony is held in Glacier Highlands Park immediately after the parade, where neighbors, friends and visitors gather respectfully as we parade the Colors and read the names of those Michigan service men and women who have died in the past year.

All are welcome to enjoy the six-block, 15 minute parade, which is exciting and fun for children and families. Highlights of past parades include a squad car from the Ann Arbor Police Dept., a City fire truck (with siren), American flag color guard, local dignitaries, volunteer drum line from Huron High School, Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, neighborhood businesses, and more. Homemade floats (decorated toy wagons) are welcome, and children ride their red, white and blue decorated bikes. Families with baby strollers bring up the rear of the parade, and there is an easy shortcut to the park. This is a wonderful opportunity to meet neighbors, local dignitaries, and enjoy the beginning of spring at our Memorial Day breakfast.

Parade Route and Parking Details

  • Traffic barricades will go up on Monday at 9:15am, blocking traffic to mark a safe parade route from Frederick to Middleton, to Bardstown, Windemere, Barrister and ending at the southeast corner of Glacier Highlands Park. Visitors may park along Greenbrier Rd., and other streets not on the parade route. There is no parking on Green Road. The Homeowner’s Association welcomes everyone. A parade marshal will direct reserved parking on Larchmont Drive for anyone with special parking needs. Glacier Park is mostly grass with limited pavement near the playground.

    • View Memorial Day Parade Route in a larger map

    Parade Details

    • Timeline
      • Streets barricaded at 9:15AM….time to move your cars off the streets if you live on the parade route!
      • Participants meet at parade entrance at 9:30AM.
      • Parade starts at 10AM.
    • Meet at the parade entrance at 9:30AM if your children and family would like to join the parade on bikes, strollers or walk along the route. Volunteer parade marshals will direct parade participants. Cub Scouts, Campfire USA, Borwnies, and Girl Scouts line up in order at the signpost intersection of Frederick and Middleton, also known as the Greenbrier Park entrance. Kids with bikes and parade vehicles will have specific, separate line-up locations. Please use caution. To prevent bike accidents, we request that parade participants refrain from throwing candy.
    • The parade “steps off” promptly at 10am, marches along Frederick, Middleton, Bardstown, Windemere and Barrister, and then enters the southeast corner of Glacier Highlands Park, corner of Barrister and Larchmont. Click here for a map. Parade marshals will direct the police car and fire truck to park on Barrister, direct pedestrians into the park, and other parade vehicles to reserved parking on Sulgrave Court.
    • A memorial service in Glacier Park follows the parade to honor those Michigan servicemen and women who have given their lives for our country in the past year. Scouts will line up for a short remembrance ceremony. Cub Scouts remain in uniform with caps on. However those gathered may wish to remove their hats and caps as a sign of respect. We will parade the colors, read the names of our Michigan troops who have died this past year in service to our country. “Taps” will be played and the colors will be retired. We do request a respectful quiet from everyone during this time.
    • CONTINUING THIS YEAR: in an effort to go green and reduce plastic bottle usage, please bring your reusable water bottle to refill. A limited amount of water will be available for refills.  Also, please bring your own coffee mug to cut down on the number of disposable cups used at the coffee station.
    • Do visit the Optimist Club table and thank Harry Hawkins for sponsoring our parade once again.
    • Donuts, bagels, coffee and a limited amount of water will be available following the memorial service. Relax, listen to the music, and enjoy the company of your friends and neighbors.
    • CONTINUING THIS YEAR: the card table will be back again this year so please plan to create a homemade card to send to a service person overseas. We’ll provide the paper and markers and then send the cards along. Our goal is to make 100 cards to send overseas.
    • Check out the GAHA Table after the parade to pay dues, sign up for our email list, learn about the GAHA web site, and other volunteer opportunities.
    • Be prepared! The parade is held rain or shine, so dress appropriately for the weather and bring your own water.

    Questions? Suggestions? Contact the GAHA board at a2gaha@gmail.com.

    Volunteers Needed
    Consider volunteering to make this year’s parade another phenomenal event! Contact the GAHA board at a2gaha@gmail.com for more information on volunteers needed. There is always room for more volunteers!!

    A special thanks to our parade sponsor, the Ann Arbor Breakfast Optimist Club, and Ypsilanti Optimist Club member, Harry Hawkins, for providing the insurance. Our parade would not be possible without his support. Please support our wonderful parade sponsors.

    Past Parade Participants:

    • Ann Arbor Fire Department
    • Ann Arbor Police Department
    • Huron High School Drum Line
    • Kent Brown and his miniature donkey, Willy
    • Ann Arbor Chinese Center of Michigan Lion Dancers
    • Campfire USA
    • Girl Scouts
    • Cub Scouts
    • Boy Scouts
    • Bike Ambassadors
    • Clague Middle School Jazz Band

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