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Greatest Generation Celebration: A week of remembrance and tribute honoring WWII veterans to take place in Grand Rapids Sept. 1-7

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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 (Greatest Generation Day Flyover 2020 – Courtesy, GGCC)


By Deborah Reed

WKTV Managing Editor

deborah@wktv.org


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.

General MacArthur signing aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay on Sept. 2, 1945 (Courtesy, GGCC)

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.

The GGC Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum exhibit will run from Aug. 23 – Sept. 7 and is open to the public (Courtesy, GRFPM)

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.

Greatest Generation Celebration Honor Parade Route 2025 (Courtesy, GGCC)

“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 parade that never happened.” Grand Rapids never held an end-of-war celebration parade. Instead, residents took to the streets and cheered – 1945 (Courtesy, Robinson Studio & GR History Center)

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.


Group of boys carrying a sailor on their shoulders while walking down Monroe Avenue and celebrating the end of World War II – 1945 (Courtesy, Robinson Studio & GR History Center)

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.

The GGC Committee is seeking 1930-1941 era drivable vehicles for the Honor Parade (Courtesy, Pat Moll)

“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.

Tribute to K9 officer part of this year’s ArtPrize

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By Jodi Miesen
WKTV Contributing Writer

Artist Kathie Van Hekken and Kent County Sheriff Officer Krystal Stuart shown with the portrait of Axel created by Van Hekken. (WKTV/Jodi Miesen)

When Rockford resident Kathie Van Hekken learned about the death of Kent County Sheriff K9 officer Axel, it spurred her into action.

“I saw it on TV the day he died,” said the 76-year-old artist of Axel, who died from an undiagnosed heart condition while tracking a suspect in August of 2021. “And I love dogs. I love pets. I know I have the skill to draw them…And I thought you know what? I could take something so sad and I can do some good with this.”

Her something good was the creation of a 44- by 44-inch color pencil portrait of Axel that is currently part of the 2022 ArtPrize exhibit. The piece hangs at the First (Park) Congregational Church, 10 E. Park Place NE.

A late bloomer in art

Van Hekken discovered her passion for art later in life, after stumbling upon it about seven years ago. Her mother was an artist who dabbled in oil paintings. Van Hekken had inherited her mother’s art supplies when she passed away in 2005, but it wasn’t until years into her retirement that Van Hekken finally got them out.

Artist Kathie Van Hekken admits her passion for art started several years after she retired as an engineer. (WKTV/Jodi Miesen)

“I went to one of those wine and women kind of things,” she said. “I took my paintings and I showed them to the teacher, and I asked if he could teach me what I was missing. And that’s when I started learning.”

She shared her desire to be “good enough” someday to be an ArtPrize artist and with encouragement from that teacher it happened in 2015 when Van Hekken entered her hand drawn, nine feet tall sunflowers.

Making a connection

Through a mutual acquaintance, Van Hekken reached out to Axel’s handler, Kent County Sheriff Officer Krystal Stuart about getting permission to create the piece.

“She told me how big it was going to be and I was like, ‘What?’” Stuart said. “Like, I didn’t even know that was possible, especially for like color pencil, like a drawing, you know. I was like, ‘How is this even going to be a thing?’”

Van Hekken admitted once she got Stuart’s permission, the project was a little nerve wracking as she wanted to do “a really good job.” Stuart was with her every step of the way, coming over regularly to see the piece as it progressed in its various stages and to let Van Hekken know she was heading in the right direction.

 

“The first conversation we had, we talked,” Van Hekken said. “She told me stories. I’ve learned that I have to know what I’m drawing. If I have an emotional attachment, it will come out. You know, when people say that I captured Axel, that’s because she made sure I knew Axel, even though I had never met him.

‘Hi, Axel’

Through this process and utilizing one of Stuart’s favorite pictures of Axel, slowly he emerged through the drawing.

The portrait of Axel that artist Katie Van Hekken used for her piece. (WKTV/Jodi Miesen)

“I think I had his ears and a little bit of his face,” she said. “And I had sketched in his mouth and I could see him for the first time for me, other than a photograph. And it was like, ‘Hi Axel.’ And I cried for him. It was just really emotional. It still is.”

It took Van Hekken about seven months to complete the massive art piece and as soon as it was, the first person she had to see it was Stuart.

 

“She was quiet,” Van Hekken said. “She just stood quietly and looked at it. It was very, very touching.”

And for Van Hekken, Stuart’s reaction was payment enough.

“She did a phenomenal job capturing his essence,” Stuart said. “He had that, like I say, twinkle in his eye, which sounds so cliché, but he really did when he was not in work mode. He had this goofy, like ‘I’m a big doofus look in his eye.’ And then when he was working, it just went black.”

Celebrating Kent County Sheriff’s K9 unit

Van Hekken said she chose Axel not only to honor him, but to raise awareness and money for the donation-based K9 Unit. Currently, there are 10 Kent County Sheriff K9s covering most of the county. The animals are trained to detect explosives, track suspects, secure buildings, or may be used as a compliance tool. Axel was the department’s first explosive detection dog.

Van Hekken said she had cards made with Axel’s portrait on them that she handed out when people visit her exhibit. The cards include a QR code to make a donation directly to the Kent County K9 Unit.

“She wanted to tell Axel’s story,” Stuart said. “She wanted to explain what the process was of getting Axel, what happened to Axel, the work that we put in and how much these K-9s actually do for our community.

“Because it’s not just having them and showing off and whatnot. I mean, they find missing children, they find vulnerable adults, suspects in places that we won’t. They protect our officers in different everyday situations.”

Sharing with the community who loved him

After ArtPrize, VanHekken will give the piece to Stuart, who hopes to donate it to the Kent County Sheriff’s Department. Stuart said she wants to share Axel with the community since he was “everybody’s dog.” Stuart is hoping to get approval to have it installed in the new North substation, which is scheduled to open in 2023 in Cedar Springs. Stuart said the location is fitting since northern Kent County was their home base “and those are the residents that had seen him the most.”

Van Hekken said she’s proud to be a part of the project. For her, it was a labor of love.

 

“I never entered ArtPrize thinking I would win, she said. “I just wanted to do something good. I wanted to make a difference. I wanted to call attention to the K9 Unit and Axel.”

And with a satisfied smile adding. “I’m already the winner.”

WKTV airs half-hour memorial tribute to Princess Diana

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Diana, Princess of Wales

In honor of the 20th anniversary of the death of Princess Diana, WKTV 25 will be airing a special half hour memorial tribute “Princess Diana: A Tribute To England’s Rose.”

 

The show will air Monday, Aug. 28, at 9:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.; Tuesday, Aug. 29, at 7 p.m. and 11 p.m.; and Friday, Sept. 1 at noon.

 

“I did the special because I have always admired Princess Diana and wanted to honor her,” said producer and longtime WKTV volunteer Kim Johnson.

 

Princess Diana was born Diana Frances Spencer on July 1, 1961. The Spencer family was of British nobility. She married Prince Charles, the heir apparent to Queen Elizabeth II, on July 29, 1981. The marriage ended in divorce in 1996.

 

Princess Diana with John Travolta (By United States Federal Government – from the Ronald Reagan Library)

Diana remained the object of worldwide media scrutiny during and after her marriage during and after her marriage. he was celebrated for her charity work and for her support of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines. She was involved with dozens of charities including London’s Great Ormond Street Hospital for children, of which she was president from 1989.

 

A year after her divorce, Diana was was fatally injured in a car crash in the Pont de l’Alma tunnel in Paris on Aug. 31, 1997. The sudden and unexpected death of an extraordinarily popular royal figure brought statements from senior figures worldwide and many tributes by members of the public. People left public offerings of flowers, candles, cards, and personal messages outside Kensington Palace for many months.

 

Her funeral was Sept. 6, 1997. At the funeral, Elton John performed a rewritten version of his song “Candle in the Wind,” which he retitled “Goodbye England’s Rose.”  Diana was laid to rest on on an island on the grounds of the Spencer Family home, Althorp Park.