By Deborah Reed
WKTV Managing Editor
A heartfelt tribute to the Greatest Generation will take place in Grand Rapids, MI during the week of Sept. 1-7. This event marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II and honors the millions of veterans and citizens who made sacrifices to ensure a world free of oppression.
This week of remembrance is an opportunity to express gratitude to the few remaining members of the Greatest Generation and ensure their sacrifices and stories are never forgotten.
“People that are of the greatest generation are 98 years or older, so we don’t have much time to have them with us and be able to honor them anymore,” said Brian Hauenstein, Co-Chair of the Greatest Generation Celebration Committee. “I see this as our last opportunity.”
What to expect
Though the first Greatest Generation Celebration (GGC) in 2020 attempt had to be severely modified due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2025 Celebration is slated to produce a full line-up of events.
GGC signature events include an Honor Parade and Wings of Honor flyover on Sept. 1 from 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. in downtown Grand Rapids; a Bell Ringing Ceremony on Sept. 1 at 8:08 p.m. to commemorate the official end of World War II; a Victory Celebration at the Air Zoo on Sept. 6 from 6-9 p.m.; Perspectives on the Greatest Generation lecture series featuring keynote speakers Rick Atkinson, Garrett Graff, Sir Antony Beevor and Susan Eisenhower on Sept. 2-4; and more.
Details for these events can be found here.
A free pop-up exhibit of Greatest Generation photographs and artifacts will also be open to the public in the Ford Museum lobby from Aug. 23-Sept. 7.
Among the artifacts featured will be a mess hall table from the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay, a piece of the USS Missouri that was gifted to Hauenstein’s grandfather from Washington, numerous West Michigan-made relics, and several stories of local heroes.
More information can be found here.
Veteran event assistance
Over 30 members of the Greatest Generation will participate in the Honor Parade and the following post parade celebration.
“We’ve been working on this in earnest for at least two to three months now, realizing that we’re losing them every day.”
Hauenstein said the GGC Committee has means to help any veterans facing transportation or mobility issues attend the parade.
“We can come and pick them up,” said Hauenstein. “Ride Your Way is a partner in this, and they are willing to go anywhere in West Michigan to pick people up, bring them to the parade and bring them back home.”
Trolley buses and World War II era vehicles are available for veterans to sit in during the parade. After the parade, veterans will be taken to a VIP tent to relax and visit with parade attendees.
Hauenstein urges veterans and their families to consider attending. “I know that everybody that goes there will just feel a lot of love.”
Leading the parade as Grand Marshals are two World War II veterans, Eugene Khorey, age 99, of the 86th “Blackhawk” Infantry Division and Maxine Lay Boeve, age 101, a trailblazing wartime machinist.
Keeping legacies alive
The Greatest Generation Celebration Committee is led by Joel Westphal, Deputy Director of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library & Museum and Professor of Global History at GRCC, Co-Chairs Brian Hauenstein and Neil Kirby, and honorary chairmen Hank Meijer and former Secretary of Energy, Spencer Abraham.
Hauenstein joined the GGC Committee because he believes in the importance of keeping the legacies of the Greatest Generation alive.
Hauenstein’s grandfather, Ralph W. Hauenstein, was Eisenhower’s Chief of Intelligence of European Theater of Operations and well-known in the Grand Rapids community. His legacy lives on in many ways, but Hauenstein said his grandfather’s legacy must also live on through him.
“I’m honored to do that, and this is one other way to do that,” said Hauenstein.
Hauenstein went on to say that a big focus of the GGC is connecting the youngest of our generations to the World War II Greatest Generation heroes.
Throughout his life, Hauenstein’s grandfather recounted the time he escorted a Civil War veteran around Grand Rapids in 1920.
“He spoke about what an amazing experience that was, to spend a day with this Civil War hero,” said Hauenstein. “That helped to shape him, who he was.”
Recognizing the impact that encounter had on his grandfather, Hauenstein arranged for the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and the Daughters of the American Revolution to participate in the Honor Parade.
“We’re hoping that we can get them to engage with the Greatest Generation while they’re there and create that similar mark on their future lives,” Hauenstein said.
How you can get involved!
Hauenstein says the GGC Committee has not had difficulty identifying volunteers for the weeklong celebration, nor identifying organizations to provide financial backing. In fact, over 30 organizations have stepped forward to offer assistance.
“We’ve been very fortunate,” says Hauenstein. “There is such a lineup of organizations that have made a decision to support [this].”
Find a complete list of GGC sponsors here.
Hauenstein said the GGC Committee has approximately 20 Greatest Generation era (1930-1941) vehicles being showcased in the parade, but would welcome more.
“We want this to be a 1945-style parade,” says Hauenstein. “You will see a 1941 Studebaker, a Wildcat [airplane], things like that. We know they’re out there…and we want them in the parade.”
Those with vehicles from the Greatest Generation era can contact the GGC Committee at ggcelebration25@gmail.com.
Those who would like to honor a family member from the Greatest Generation with a tribute board can visit the GGC website for details. Tribute boards will be carried in the Honor Parade by volunteers.
This celebration is proudly organized by the Greatest Generation Committee, the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation, the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library & Museum, Michigan Heroes Museum, the Hauenstein Center at Grand Valley State University, the City of Grand Rapids, the Air Zoo, Celebration Cinema, WZZM 13 On Your Side, the Gilmore Car Museum and the World Affairs Council of Western Michigan.
