Recapping 75 years of stories

As The War Memorial closes out our 75th anniversary in 2024, we thought it would be fitting that the final “Stories of Impact” article recap some of the stories that were shared throughout the year.

Our diamond anniversary began with the story of Chris and Libby McDonald, a couple who had their wedding reception at our nonprofit organization in January 2018. In fact, it was also at The War Memorial in 1983 when Libby’s parents, Jeff and Sally Stallings, were married.

Elaborating on what appealed to them about The War Memorial, Chris McDonald said “It had more than just curbside appeal. We were able to be part of a relatively small group of people that The War Memorial affords the opportunity to do that with.”

Libby and Chris McDonald had their wedding reception at The War Memorial in January 2018.

In February, Suzy Berschback, a former War Memorial employee, shared her vast experiences of the institution. She was employed at The War Memorial as a marketing and development coordinator from 1990-2000. She helped throw The War Memorial’s 50th anniversary gala in 1999 with the theme “Sentimental Journey” and assisted in starting the annual Veterans Day Breakfast.

“When I came here, there wasn’t much historical information about the organization,” she said. “I wanted to tell a story about who gave this, where The War Memorial came from, and what the legacy for the community is.”

Berschback, whose husband Chip served on the War Memorial Board of Directors in the 1990s, also co-authored the Images of America book “Grosse Pointe War Memorial” with Ann Marie Aliotta in 2010.

Tying in National Vietnam War Veterans Day in late March, we showcased the story of John Lauve, a Vietnam War veteran with connections to The War Memorial.

Lauve served in the Army 1st Infantry Division as a helicopter pilot in the Vietnam War. He was part of the 2nd Brigade, assigned to the aviation unit. His name is engraved on the bronze Vietnam War Honor Roll Plaque at The War Memorial. The plaque is positioned on a wall on the main floor of the Alger House, outside of the Reception Room. Over 400 names are on the Vietnam War plaque.  

Speaking about the plaques, Lauve said it’s nice that The War Memorial makes the effort to recognize individuals who were involved in the Vietnam War.

Vietnam War Veteran John Lauve is seen at a Veterans Day Breakfast at The War Memorial. Lauve’s name is engraved on the bronze Vietnam War Honor Roll Plaque at The War Memorial.

We closed out April with the story of Ron and Diane Strickler who were first introduced to The War Memorial in 1998. The occasion? Driver education for their teenage daughter.

The Grosse Pointe Shores couple has attended various galas and patriotic celebrations, with Diane playing an integral part of a resident partner of The War Memorial, The Family Center of Grosse Pointe & Harper Woods. In response to what The War Memorial means to them, the Strickler’s agreed there’s an awful lot that the organization has given to them professionally and socially.

Just after Memorial Day, we shared the story of John Steininger. In 2019, Steininger donated a U.S. flag to The War Memorial, but it’s not your typical Old Glory. The flag was carried by members of the Army’s 29th Infantry Division at Omaha Beach in Normandy, France on D-Day – June 6, 1944. The framed flag, with 48 stars, is proudly displayed on a wall in the Reflection Room of the Fred M. Alger Center.

Shortly after purchasing the flag, Steininger was contacted by The War Memorial to see about giving the flag a permanent home here.

“I told the former president that I think I had just what you would like to have,” he said. “All American flags in my mind should be honored to some degree. The War Memorial is where it should be.”

The first half of the year concluded with a look at John Prost’s War Memorial memories. For over 30 years, Prost hosted television shows from The War Memorial as part of WMTV, the former public access television station. Prost said the local station was established in the 1970s and had a studio at The War Memorial near where the present Grosse Pointe Artists Association gallery is. He estimates that he hosted 5,000 episodes over the decades, including the series “Coffee Break with John Prost.”

Speaking about station programming, Prost said many of the plays put on by the Grosse Pointe Theatre would be shown, as well as various Grosse Pointe Public Schools functions.

For over 30 years, John Prost hosted television shows from The War Memorial as part of WMTV, the former public access television station.

Stories for our diamond anniversary rolled on with Dave Bennett, who shared his musical journey at The War Memorial. Over the last decade, Bennett has become somewhat of a War Memorial staple when it comes to musical entertainment, frequently gracing audiences with his talents.  In that time, Bennett estimates he has played here about 30 times, ranging from performing at the former Patriot Theater, to the Alger House, the Alger Center and on the lakeside lawn. In July, Bennett and his band kicked off The War Memorial’s SummerFest Concert Series. His next War Memorial performance comes on Jan. 19 as he curates the Dave Bennett Winter Brunch Series.        

In July, Ron and Mary Lamparter discussed their War Memorial story of support and patriotism. The Lamparter’s, of Grosse Pointe Farms, each served on The War Memorial’s Board of Directors - Ron in the 1990s, and Mary from 2015-2023. 

“It’s an amazing asset seeing what The War Memorial gives back to the community,” Mary said. “The War Memorial is creating a much more robust veterans’ program than we’ve ever had in the past.”     

Mary and Ron Lamparter are seen here at The War Memorial in May 2023 at the dedication ceremony for Les Braves II: At Water’s Edge.

The final full month of summer featured a story on rock and roll legend and Michigan native Ted Nugent. On June 21, 1971, Nugent and the Amboy Dukes performed at the Fries Auditorium at The War Memorial.

“Oh, I remember alright!” Nugent wrote in an email interview with The War Memorial.

An archived edition of the Grosse Pointe News from June 17, 1971, indicates that a movie was shown at the Fries Auditorium prior to the concert. Tickets to see the Amboy Dukes were $3 in advance or $3.50 at the door.

In September, we heard from Martin Astfalk, The War Memorial’s longest serving current employee.

Since 1999, Astfalk has been on staff at The War Memorial, playing a key role on the culinary team.

“I’ve been through six head chefs and I’m still here,” he jokes.

Having a quarter of a century of experience at The War Memorial, Astfalk recalls the days when multiple generations of some families would work here simultaneously.

“There was a brother and sister who worked here, and there was another girl who started as a teenager and worked for about 30 years,” he said. “Back then, lots of people worked here for 30 years. We would have grandmothers, mothers, and daughters all working here.”

War Memorial Head Sous Chef Martin Astfalk is The War Memorial’s longest serving current employee. He began working here in 1999.

A story that emerged in October was that of Margaret and Allan Torp. A 70th anniversary party was thrown at The War Memorial in late September for the Torp’s. The couple, now in their late 80s, were married on July 24, 1954. 

“We wanted to have it at The War Memorial because it’s a special anniversary,” Margaret said. “We wanted it to be at a special place and be able to invite a number of family and friends and The War Memorial appealed to us.” 

The Torp’s first War Memorial experience occurred within the last decade. In that time, they’ve attended various functions and concerts.    

Most recently, we showcased the story of former War Memorial Board Member Beverly Curtiss-Walsh. Curtiss-Walsh, of Grosse Pointe City, was on the board from 2010-2018. She moved to the area after she was in college.   

Her first experiences at The War Memorial would have been when her children Brian and Jill, attended school dances, Ski-Hi, and driver education classes.  

“My first impression of The War Memorial was that it was very well run,” Curtiss-Walsh said. “It is a beautiful spot.”   

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and thank you to all who shared their War Memorial stories with us in 2024. To view past 75th anniversary stories, click here.  

Former board member views War Memorial as enriching institution

The War Memorial is a place that has enriched Beverly Curtiss-Walsh's life. The main factor? The people.  

“I was able to work with wonderful people to make a difference in Grosse Pointe and in the surrounding community,” the former War Memorial Board of Directors member said. “To see what we imagined for The War Memorial actually coming through was incredible. The War Memorial makes a difference in this community.” 

Her first experiences at The War Memorial would have been when her children Brian and Jill, attended school dances, Ski-Hi, and driver education classes. 

“My first impression of The War Memorial was that it was very well run,” Curtiss-Walsh said. “It is a beautiful spot.”  

After being so impressed by the organization, she joined The War Memorial board from 2010-2018.

“There were several people on the nominating committee that knew me,” she said in response to how it came about for her to be on the board. “I felt like being on the board was a way to do good for the community.” 

Curtiss-Walsh notes that some years on the board required more of a time commitment than others. 

“When we were looking at hiring a new president, I was chair of the search committee,” she said. 

It was her experience of being on the search committee that is what Curtiss-Walsh is most proud of. 

“We found our wonderful chairman,” she said. 

Looking back on the 2010s at The War Memorial, Curtiss-Walsh said the opening of the Patriot Theater was a milestone. 

“We were able to get the theater going and that was a real positive addition,” she commented. “It was a revamped and refreshed theater with new seats. It brought in a lot of wonderful movies, entertainment and speakers. It became much more of a community center.”  

For Curtiss-Walsh, since The War Memorial offers such a variety of opportunities for all ages, there’s nothing like it in Grosse Pointe. 

“Many people and organizations call it their home, like the Men’s Club, The Family Center and the Grosse Pointe Artists Association,” she said. “The War Memorial has really stepped up in their support of veterans, and the veterans are coming more.”    

We invite you to join Beverly – honor her theme of service, gratitude, and generosity by getting involved at The War Memorial. You can join our volunteer ranks, donate to one of our incredible funds, or support The War Memorial by attending one of our upcoming events or classes!

As we wrap up our 75th anniversary, The War Memorial thanks those who have shared their stories about the impact and experiences they have had at our nonprofit organization. To view past Stories of Impact, visit here.

Honor and duty: The John Cary story

While everyone else was inside, John Cary was outside, performing a respectful ritual. 

On Veterans Day yesterday at The War Memorial, Cary executed Silent Guard duty during the annual breakfast.  

“You take a certain amount of steps, you stop, salute the flag very quietly and ceremoniously, then make a left or right face and march on,” Cary said, explaining what Silent Guard duty is. “When you get to the end of the pavement, you make a ceremonial about face which is slow, then do a slow salute.” 

This was the second time he participated in the breakfast in that manner. He also did Silent Guard duty at last year's Veterans Day Breakfast. 

“Then I march back and forth, not showing any emotion, you just continue to do it,” Cary said. “The importance of Silent Guard duty is to pay respect to our fallen brothers and sisters and our nation.” 

Speaking about Veterans Day, Cary noted that it’s a way to thank those who came before him, setting the tone for him to serve. 

“They are my role models and mentors,” he said.  

Cary has served in the Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard Auxiliary and Army. He currently is in the Coast Guard Auxiliary, the uniformed, non-military volunteer component of the Coast Guard.  

“I served in every conflict from when I joined until when I got out,” he said.  

In 2009, the Coast Guard Commandant made Cary an honorary chief petty officer. 

“Within the Navy I served with the Marines as well,” he said. “I started in the mid-1970s. I wanted to be in the military probably because of my family. We are a Gold Star family as well. Quite a few of my family members were in the military. My dad was in the Army.”  

When asked why we wanted to serve in so many branches, Cary said the needs of the service and the needs of his country dictated the path he took.     

In June, Cary received a letter from the Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard. The letter indicated that Cary is authorized to wear the Auxiliary Commandant’s Letter of Commendation Ribbon Bar. The commendation was for actions that Cary took in the summer of 2001 while a member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary.  

On a nighttime patrol, Cary and his fellow shipmates noticed lights shining into the water near the shoreline. Getting closer, it became apparent that a vehicle drove off the seawall and was half submerged in the lake.  

“That was my first patrol on the crew. We were the first people to arrive on scene,” he said. “We’re all volunteers. We contacted the station to let them know what we had and they said they didn’t have time to send someone out, so we did what we had to do.” 

Noticing a man and dog were trapped in the vehicle, Cary and crew developed a plan to execute a rescue. 

 “With the assistance of your break-in crewmember, Auxiliarist John Cary aided in the extraction of an inebriated driver and his dog from the vehicle’s window,” the letter states. 

The man was safely delivered to land-based rescue personnel. 

“As a result of your quick thinking and auxiliary experience, you and your shipmates turned a potentially catastrophic situation into a winning scenario and saved the life of a man and his dog,” the letter indicates.     

As we wrap up our 75th anniversary, The War Memorial thanks those who have shared their stories about the impact and experiences they have had at our nonprofit organization. To view past Stories of Impact, visit here.    

Veteran impressed with War Memorial changes over the years

Each time John Matheus is at The War Memorial, it gets better and better.  

Matheus, of Grosse Pointe Woods, is a Vietnam War veteran. His next time at the nonprofit will be in November, for our annual Veterans Day Breakfast on Monday, Nov. 11. 

“When I was there in the 60s and the 90s, it was not as fancy as it is now,” he said.  

In June of 1967, Matheus attended a high school dance at The War Memorial and recalls a humorous story about his parents from that night. 

“My parents never were chaperones for anything,” he said. “Through junior high school at Brownell Middle School to dances and other activities, they didn’t come. They happened to pick the last high school event to chaperone at. It was after we graduated and we were having a senior party and dance at The War Memorial. All night I couldn’t lose them. I was with my girlfriend and I was so embarrassed. They saved it to the very end of high school to come up and ask me questions.” 

The 1967 dance was Matheus’ second time at The War Memorial, the first came a year earlier, also for a dance. 

“For that dance in my junior year, it was at night and real dark, so I wasn’t too impressed with the ambiance that night,” he said. “Everyone was wearing bell-bottoms.” 

Sharing another War Memorial story, Matheus explained that in 1992, he attended a yearbook advisor seminar. That was when he was the yearbook advisor for a middle school.  

“I was delightfully impressed at the changes at The War Memorial. It didn’t even look like the same building,” he said. “I know they have added on. We just moved back to Grosse Pointe about six weeks ago, so The War Memorial is familiar, yet totally different.” 

Having not been to The War Memorial since before Les Braves II: At Water’s Edge was installed in the spring of 2023, Matheus almost didn’t recognize the facility, when looking at it from the water. Earlier this year, Matheus and some friends were boating on Lake St. Clair, going to check out the Gordie Howe International Bridge in Detroit. On their journey, they passed The War Memorial, with a nice view of the 50-foot-wide and 25-foot-tall sculpture.  

Speaking to his military background, Matheus served in the Navy beginning in 1971 after he graduated college.  

“I enlisted in the Naval Air Reserve at Selfridge and had a year of active duty,” he said. “Then I had five years of reserve commitment.”   

He notes that it’s important that The War Memorial is a place that honors veterans. 

“Without the courage and dedication that Americans have displayed, we live in a free country,” Matheus said. “That’s the ultimate sacrifice, to give blood for their country.” 

This year, as part of our 75th anniversary, The War Memorial will share stories from the public about the impact and experiences they have had at the nonprofit organization. Do you have a special War Memorial story or memory? Join us in telling #myWMstory and share yours!       

Platinum anniversary party shared with family and friends at The War Memorial

They’ve been married for nearly as long as The War Memorial has operated.

A 70th anniversary party was thrown at The War Memorial on Sept. 29 for Margaret and Allan Torp.

“We wanted to have it at The War Memorial because it’s a special anniversary,” Margaret said. “We wanted it to be at a special place and be able to invite a number of family and friends and The War Memorial appealed to us.”

Describing War Memorial staff as professional, polite and friendly, Margaret commented that the service at the party was good, and the food was excellent. About 75 people attended their platinum anniversary party.

“It was a very emotional day,” she said. “I was rather overwhelmed when we looked out and saw all the people there that cared for us. We renewed our vows, and we had a question-and-answer game where we asked people to think of a memory of us. We were thankful to all who came.”

The Torp’s, of Grosse Pointe Woods, were married on July 24, 1954 at Calvary Baptist Church in Roseville. Allan, 88, and Margaret, 87, graduated from Roseville High School in 1953.

“We met in high school as juniors,” she said. “I had come from Canada.”

The Torp’s first War Memorial experience occurred within the last decade. In that time, they’ve attended various functions and concerts.

“Our church, Christ Church Grosse Pointe would hold some fundraisers at The War Memorial,” Margaret said. “And we’ve been here for some weddings.”

In response to what her impressions of the nonprofit organization are, Margaret noted that it reminds her of a grand, old lady.

“Especially the Alger House,” she notes. “I’ve had two showers there for my granddaughter. The age of the Alger House is what makes it unique. I appreciate that The War Memorial is dedicated to the military and veterans. You know that having an event here will always be done well.”

Margaret said one of their granddaughters, Alexis Coutts had her wedding and baby shower at The War Memorial, within the last five years. The Torp’s have three children, five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

This year, as part of our 75th anniversary, The War Memorial will share stories from the public about the impact and experiences they have had at the nonprofit organization. Do you have a special War Memorial story or memory? Join us in telling #myWMstory and share yours!       

‘It was a magical day’: Couple recalls 1969 War Memorial wedding

As they stood in front of The War Memorial, they couldn’t help but reminisce about their big day.

Robert and Christine Codish, of Detroit, were married at The War Memorial on May 4, 1969. They returned in late September to the location of their wedding service for some special photos to be taken.

“We rented a room at The War Memorial but it was so nice out that day that we decided to have it outside,” Robert said. “It was really nice. There were carillon bells that were going off as we got out there. It was kind of a magical day.”

Christine and Robert Codish are pictured at The War Memorial, recreating a scene from their May 1969 wedding here. 

As Christine tells the story, the minister at Grosse Pointe Unitarian Church was doing Sunday services at The War Memorial, and the couple, who met while attending Cass Technical High School in Detroit, was going to have him marry them.

“We got married at The War Memorial after a Sunday service,” she said. “That was the best weekend of weather that month. The weekends after that were all rainy. All the flowers were blooming and the trees were in bloom. We were married out front, by the fountain.”

About 25 people attended the service.

Following the service, the couple's reception was at an art studio that Christine worked at in Detroit.

Christine recalls how beautiful the rose garden at The War Memorial was at the time of the wedding.

“I’m an artist, so I used to show there once a year,” she said. “The grounds would be open for artists to have their booths, and I always had a table and would show my portraits.”

Other than their wedding service, Christine has been to the nonprofit organization for piano recitals, plays put on by the Grosse Pointe Theatre and more.

“The Unity Church used to have their services at The War Memorial and I actually took art classes there from a guy named Mr. Coppini,” Christine said. “I also took drawing classes there for sketching.”

She adds that whenever at The War Memorial, she would make it a point to go down by the water and look at the gardens.

“We also saw concerts here too,” Christine said. “It’s a beautiful place to walk around and it’s free to go in.”

This year, as part of our 75th anniversary, The War Memorial will share stories from the public about the impact and experiences they have had at the nonprofit organization. Do you have a special War Memorial story or memory? Join us in telling #myWMstory and share yours!       

Cooking up War Memorial stories with Chef Marty

He’s The War Memorial’s longest serving current employee and with it comes a trip down memory lane. 

Since 1999, Martin Astfalk has been on staff at our nonprofit organization, playing a key role on the culinary team. 

“I’ve been through six head chefs and I’m still here,” he jokes.  

Having grown up in the Grosse Pointes, Astfalk remembers one year when his family of 11 came to The War Memorial to take their family Christmas picture on the back balcony, and one photo on the sea wall.   

Chef Marty is seen here, fifth from the right, with his family. This photo was taken on the sea wall at The War Memorial. 

“There’s definitely some history here,” he said.    

In the 1980s and 1990s, Astfalk worked at Sparky Herbert’s in Grosse Pointe Park. 

“It was kind of the hopping place in the 1980s, and I worked there for 16 years,” he said. “I was a dumb kid learning the ropes. That is where I learned a lot.” 

After Sparky’s, he worked at a few other establishments until his War Memorial career began. 

“I had a friend who was a houseman here,” he said. “He said to interview here and I interviewed with the kitchen manager and the head cook. They asked me a few questions and said I start tomorrow.”   

Early on, Astfalk was asked to learn the way operations were done at The War Memorial, and to let management know if there were things that could be improved. 

“We changed a little bit eventually,” he said. “When I started, the staff was half the size of what it is now. On a Friday night, I would do a wedding in the ballroom and a wedding in the Alger House. On a Saturday for lunch, I would do the same. Every Saturday during the wedding season I did four weddings. Then I would have two guys working the ballroom wedding and two guys for the wedding in the house. Now, I have six people helping for one wedding. On the worst weeks, I could be here up to 80 hours.”  

Now the head sous chef, Astfalk said it took him a while to get over the removal of the Knot Gardens, which were where the community room and reflection room in the Fred M. Alger Center currently are. 

Astfalk, 62, shared the story of when the head cook in the late 1990s told him that he wouldn’t get rich working at The War Memorial, but that his co-workers would be wonderful to work with, and he would work in a beautiful setting.  

“Just as nice as the people were back then, they still are,” he said. 

Having a quarter of a century of experience at The War Memorial, Astfalk recalls the days when multiple generations of some families would work here simultaneously.  

“There was a brother and sister who worked here, and there was another girl who started as a teenager and worked for about 30 years,” he said. “Back then, lots of people worked here for 30 years. We would have grandmothers, mothers, and daughters all working here.”    

The Grosse Pointe South High School graduate explained there was another family who the grandmother worked here, the mother was a house housekeeper, and the daughter was a server.  

“When you find a place that you’re comfortable at and you like it that is close to home, then you stay,” Astfalk said in response to why it has been important for him to work at The War Memorial as long as he has. 

This year, as part of our 75th anniversary, The War Memorial will share stories from the public about the impact and experiences they have had at the nonprofit organization. Do you have a special War Memorial story or memory? Join us in telling #myWMstory and share yours!       

For the love of dance: War Memorial instructor shares experiences

It’s the connection that is the best part of the world of dance for John Perna.

“The connection is where the enjoyment comes from,” he said. “Not so much that you are doing the steps, but the fact you can do it together with someone. I want them to do the steps together.”

Since 2009, Perna, of Grosse Pointe Woods, has taught ballroom dance classes at The War Memorial.

“My friend who has since passed away, Nancy Mccaffrey recommended me to teach classes at The War Memorial,” he said. “The person who led the classes before me retired. I had an interview, they liked me, and they hired me.”

His rotation of classes includes waltz and rumba, foxtrot and swing, tango and cha-cha.

“In the summer, I’ve often done less standard classes like hustle and west coast swing,” he said.

A pair of classes coincide for a six-week session. A good-size class for Perna is when 10 or more people attend.

Currently, Perna leads the Beginner Ballroom Basics at The War Memorial. The class runs on Tuesdays from Sept. 10 to Oct. 15, beginning at 7 p.m. Intermediate Ballroom Basics with Perna also runs the same length, beginning at 8 p.m.

Perna began dancing in his 40s, while working for Habitat for Humanity in Saginaw, where he served as the executive director.

“I didn’t know anybody there and heard about a singles dance that I was really nervous to go to,” he said. “The first time I went I made it as far as the parking lot, then I had to turn around. The next week, I made it as far as the front door. Then by that time, I met a few people who went to it, so I knew I would know people there.”

Prior to him leading classes here, Perna hadn’t led any formal classes.

“The War Memorial position was my first formal dance instructor position,” he said. “Classes here are a safe way to learn. We’re in the activity room in the basement and it’s just us. Learning to dance, particularly for the fellas, is hard to learn. When I was a kid, dancing wasn’t a cool thing to do.”

Perna adds that for many guys, dancing is a difficult activity to break into, with men often feeling uncoordinated when they start a class.

“It’s just us at The War Memorial and no one is watching, so we can focus on this awkward and sometimes uncomfortable thing to start doing,” he said. “It’s a fun way to learn to dance.”

Speaking about the transformation he sees in folks from the first to last dance lesson, Perna commented that it’s wonderful to see.

“They may not get it in the first lesson, they struggle through it and then in the next week, it kind of gets easier and starts to come,” he said. “It gets better by the third week, and then we start a new dance. Often, the body learns even when we’re not doing the activity.”

This year, as part of our 75th anniversary, The War Memorial will share stories from the public about the impact and experiences they have had at the nonprofit organization. Do you have a special War Memorial story or memory? Join us in telling #myWMstory and share yours!       

Uncle Ted and The War Memorial

During The War Memorial’s 75-year history, plenty of musicians have taken to the stage – whether it be in the Alger House, on the lakefront lawn, in the Alger Center, or in the former Fries Auditorium, later known as the Patriot Theater.

One such performance came on June 21, 1971, when Ted Nugent and the Amboy Dukes performed at the Fries Auditorium.

“Oh, I remember alright!” the 75-year-old Nugent wrote in an email interview with The War Memorial. “I remember all my 6,944 rock outs because each and every one of them was the most important rock out ever! My band attacked every gig as the most important gig every time!”

The cover of The Amboy Dukes 1969 album Migration. The group performed at The War Memorial on June 21, 1971. Ted Nugent is seen here, third from the left.

Nugent recalls Nancy Quatro attending that gig, something that he called inspiring. Quatro was part of The Pleasure Seekers, the all-female rock band from Detroit that also has a War Memorial connection. The group took some publicity photos here in the 1960s.

The Amboy Dukes are best known for its 1968 hit “Journey to the Center of the Mind,” with Nugent serving as lead guitarist. The group consisted of Nugent, Dave Palmer on drums, Rick Lober and Andy Solomon on keyboards, Greg Arama on bass guitar, Steve Farmer on guitar and vocals, and John Brake on lead vocals.

“Uncle Ted” as he is sometimes referred to, has sold millions of albums, while performing nearly 7,000 concerts, and in 2012 was named Detroit’s Greatest Guitar Player of all time by readers of MLive.

An archived edition of the Grosse Pointe News from June 17, 1971, indicates that a movie was shown at the Fries Auditorium prior to the concert. Tickets to see the Amboy Dukes were $3 in advance or $3.50 at the door.

“Those early shows would all have looked like a band of gung-ho, maniacally driven young whippersnapper musicians that absolutely immersed ourselves into the music to make every song powerful, energized, tight, dynamic and authoritative like our heroes James Brown and Chuck Berry,” Nugent writes in response to what his show in 1971 would have looked like. “There would have been very athletic be-bopping and dancing to the grind and grooves with nothing but glowing smiles and happiness for the musical connection with our audience.”

The appearance in Grosse Pointe Farms came about four years prior to some of Nugent’s top hits like “Stranglehold” and “Motor City Madhouse” being released. A few of the Motor City Madman’s top hits include “Catch Scratch Fever,” “Fred Bear” and “Free-For-All.”

Other local appearances by Nugent and the group in 1971 included Detroit’s Cobo Arena in January, the Michigan State Fairgrounds Coliseum in Detroit, and Eastown Theatre, also in the Motor City.

Speaking about The War Memorial and our work to honor veterans, Nugent said “We were too young and dumb back then to know the life and death importance of warriors fighting and sacrificing for freedom, but we quickly came to grasp its historical and American value and soon dedicated ourselves accordingly. Today I dedicate much of my life to showing appreciation and total support for U.S. military heroes and their families.”

This year, as part of our 75th anniversary, The War Memorial will share stories from the public about the impact and experiences they have had at the nonprofit organization. Do you have a special War Memorial story or memory? Join us in telling #myWMstory and share yours!       

Piece of artwork at The War Memorial represents one family's legacy

The first word that comes to mind when Sue Majewski thinks of The War Memorial is community.

“It’s always the community that is there,” she said.

In the 1990s, her uncles of the Monahan Company were general contractors. The Monahan brothers – Jack, Bill, Ted and Dan - worked on The War Memorial for years. A plaque is situated on the east end of the fountain in front of the Alger House which reads “Dedicated to the memory of Mr. and Mrs. Edward V Monahan,” Majewski’s grandparents.

War Memorial President & CEO Maria Miller, left, pictured with Sue Majewski. In 2021, Majewski created a stained-glass mosaic that is currently on display in Miller’s office.

“The oldest of the brothers was very involved with The War Memorial for many years and he was very proud of it,” she said. “They worked on churches, schools and construction in the Grosse Pointe area and he was proud to help coordinate things.” 

Majewski, of St. Clair Shores, has a photo from 1995 when the fountain in front of The War Memorial was dedicated. 

“The original was white plaster, and my uncles hired a plumber to make the plumbing work,” she said. “They dedicated it to my grandparents. What you see now is the newer fountain.”    

In 2021, Majewski created a stained-glass mosaic that is currently on display in the office of War Memorial President & CEO Maria Miller. The handmade mosaic depicts the fountain and front side of the Alger House at The War Memorial. It measures 3 feet wide by 4 feet tall. 

“The Grosse Pointe News did a contest about what would you make, if you could make anything,” she said. “I became a full-time mosaic artist in 2019. I said go big or go home and I wanted to do The War Memorial. The more I thought about it, the more it made sense to do the fountain. I was really happy with the way it turned out.”  

Majewski’s first time at The War Memorial would have been as part of the Grosse Pointe Youth Council in her early teen years while a student at Grosse Pointe South High School. The council oversaw the Battle of the Bands in the Fries Auditorium in the 1970s. 

“It was a cool group of high school kids and we put on the Battle of the Bands dances,” she said. “We would do volunteer work for it. The War Memorial was the only place that South High School students got to know North students, unless it was at a party. We had a blast.” 

At the end of the fiscal year, everybody on the council received points for their work and took a train trip to Toronto. 

“It was a reward for all of our hard work,” she said. “We had our meetings in the room of the lower level of the house that faces the water.” 

Another memory on the Youth Council was running up and down the big stone steps at The War Memorial, “like we owned the place,” Majewski said.  

Most of her life, it was engrained in Majewski that The War Memorial was a place that felt like home. 

“That’s where the community goes,” she said. “I’ve attended everything there- baby showers, plenty of weddings, and I can picture being in every room on the first floor for a shower or party of some sort.”   

This year, as part of our 75th anniversary, The War Memorial will share stories from the public about the impact and experiences they have had at the nonprofit organization. Do you have a special War Memorial story or memory? Join us in telling #myWMstory and share yours!       

Ron and Mary Lamparter: A War Memorial story of support and patriotism

For Ron and Mary Lamparter, their support of The War Memorial is for two primary reasons: for the community and to see work being done for veterans.

“It’s an amazing asset seeing what The War Memorial gives back to the community,” Mary said. “The War Memorial is creating a much more robust veterans’ program than we’ve ever had in the past.”

The Lamparter’s, of Grosse Pointe Farms, married in 1982. They each served on The War Memorial’s Board of Directors - Ron in the 1990s, and Mary from 2015-2023.

In high school in the 1950s, Ron remembers coming to The War Memorial for events.

Mary and Ron Lamparter are seen here at The War Memorial in May 2023 at the dedication ceremony for Les Braves II: At Water’s Edge.

“I went to Detroit Public Schools, so it was a privilege for me to go to anything in Grosse Pointe,” he said. “It was just the house back then, the theater hadn’t been built.”

Mary believes that The War Memorial is one of the greatest assets that any community can have.

“It’s unique because of where it sits,” she adds. “People are overwhelmed by the Lake St. Clair view. The Alger House is significant and one of the few mansions we’ve been able to keep in the Grosse Pointes.”

Speaking about when her first experience at The War Memorial was, Mary noted it would have been for a War Memorial event during the days of Mark Weber.

Weber was the president of The War Memorial for over 30 years, beginning in 1982.

Mary’s involvement with The War Memorial increased after meeting former War Memorial President and CEO Charles Burke in 2015.

“I met him and I guess I did something right because he came back and asked me if I would be on the board,” Mary said. “Being on the board was one of the best times. It was under a new president and we managed to build the Alger Center, then Les Braves was another major event. There was a newfound energy that was brought to the community, promoting The War Memorial in ways that it hadn’t been in the past.”

Speaking more about her time on the board, Mary noted that it was a time of rejuvenation with the organization taking a new role in the community.

In response to what changes he has seen at The War Memorial, Ron said that after World War II, it became a center for patriotism, later becoming more of a community center. The War Memorial’s mission is to be a patriotic, cultural, and community leader.

“Now, it’s got back on track more toward patriotism, which I believe is a strong need for our country,” he said.

When Mary saw Les Braves II: At Water’s Edge on the lakefront lawn at The War Memorial in the spring of 2023, she said it was overwhelming.

“It was something that even though we had been talking about it for months and planning, to actually see it was beyond all expectations,” she said. “I didn’t have any idea of the physical impact it was going to have.”

During the May 2023 dedication ceremony for the sculpture, the Lamparter’s, along with artist Anilore Banon, spread sand that was collected from the Easy Red sector of Omaha Beach in Normandy, France at the base of Les Braves II.

When he sees Les Braves II, Ron thinks of the everyone working together, as was the case in World War II.

“My father and grandfather told me that when D-Day happened, that was the beginning of the end of World War II. It will soon be over,” Ron recalled. “And it was. It was an important time in my life. The sculpture represents togetherness.”

One Les Braves II story that the Lamparter’s shared was for Ron’s 80th birthday, before knowing that the sculpture would be at The War Memorial, an artist friend completed a painting of the original Les Braves that now hangs in the Lamparter’s office.

“It was a couple of years after that when it was brought up at The War Memorial and I could say ‘I know what that is.’” Mary said. “It was almost full circle to not knowing what it was, to a couple of years later standing in front of it.”

This year, as part of our 75th anniversary, The War Memorial will share stories from the public about the impact and experiences they have had at the nonprofit organization. Do you have a special War Memorial story or memory? Join us in telling #myWMstory and share yours!   

A place for the community: couple celebrates anniversary at The War Memorial

Some 40 years after having their wedding reception at The War Memorial, Andrew and Melinda Campbell recently returned to the nonprofit organization, this time for an anniversary party.

A 40th anniversary party was thrown at The War Memorial on June 16 for the Campbell’s, of Ann Arbor.

“It was beautiful,” Melinda said. “The way the room decorated was really lovely. Our four children planned it. There was also a tiered wedding cake. With the lake in the background, everything was so beautiful.”

Not only was their anniversary party here, the couple had their wedding reception at The War Memorial in 1984.

“The service was in the morning and we got there around 11,” Melinda said. “We had about 150 people, and it was a morning wedding. We had a light lunch. We took photos along the pillars that used to be there.”

She remembers a three-piece band playing at the reception.

Aside from wedding festivities at The War Memorial, Melinda’s experiences here include attending plays at the Fries Auditorium, seeing famed pianist Arthur Rubinstein play, and having a few relatives who served in the military honored.

Her mother Marion Joan Leone was in the Navy, part of the Women's Auxiliary Volunteer Emergency Service, or WAVES, from 1944 to 1946. The WAVES were stationed at U.S. military bases, filling in for the men who were sent overseas. Marion’s boot camp was at Hunter College in New York. She was later assigned to Naval Air Station Grosse Ile.

Melinda’s mother's name is on the World War II Honor Roll plaque at The War Memorial as Marion J. Nester, her maiden name. She died in 1999 at the age of 75. Melinda’s father, Alfred Gerard Leone, was a fighter pilot in the Navy, also during World War II. He passed away in 2014 at age 91. Also inscribed on the Honor Roll at The War Memorial is the name of Melinda’s grandfather, Thomas Nester.

About a decade ago, Melinda and her siblings pitched in to purchase memorial bricks at The War Memorial with their parent's name on it, located in the Veterans Garden.

Melinda’s parents were married in 1948 and had seven children – one boy and six girls.

Born in Grosse Pointe Park, Melinda spent her early years in the Grosse Pointe community. Growing up, she recalls The War Memorial always being a lovely and stately establishment.

“The home is beautiful and to have it right there on the lake is a bonus,” she said. “It’s nice to have The War Memorial as a place for the community to go.”

This year, as part of our 75th anniversary, The War Memorial will share stories from the public about the impact and experiences they have had at the nonprofit organization. Do you have a special War Memorial story or memory? Join us in telling #myWMstory and share yours!   

Dave Bennett shares his musical journey at The War Memorial

His musical versatility will once again be on display at The War Memorial. 

Over the last 10 years, Dave Bennett has become somewhat of a War Memorial staple when it comes to musical entertainment, frequently gracing audiences at the nonprofit organization with his talents.     

“The summer of 2014 was when I played my first concert at The War Memorial,” he said. “Someone who worked there called me about doing a show.” 

Bennett is a multi-instrumentalist and singer who performs everything from jazz and swing to rock and roll. As a jazz and pop clarinet player, Bennett has performed all over North American at historic venues and festivals, including Carnegie Hall. His 2018 Mack Avenue Records release "Blood Moon" reached No. 24 on the Billboard jazz charts.  

Some of his recent performances at The War Memorial include being part of the Winter Jazz Brunch Series in 2023 and 2024, and playing at the dedication of Les Braves II: At Water’s Edge in 2023.  

“I don’t recall playing at many other places that have the beauty of The War Memorial,” Bennett said. “It’s a really nice setting, especially for the band because we get to look at nice surroundings. It’s top notch all the way around.”   

Bennett is a clarinet virtuoso who plays electric guitar, piano, drums, and vocalizes. Saluting swing to rock, he covers music from the Swing Era to early Rockabilly and Country, to Elvis Presley and more.  

The 40-year-old from Waterford estimates that in the last decade, he has played The War Memorial about 30 times, ranging from performing at the former Patriot Theater, to the Alger House, the Alger Center and on the lakeside lawn.  

“Every show has been great,” Bennett said. “The whole staff has always been really good. The sound crew is always great, and when they give us meals, they are always top notch. It’s an incredible atmosphere at The War Memorial.”  

On July 10, The War Memorial’s SummerFest Concert Series begins with the Dave Bennett Band, featuring Bennett’s special blend of rockabilly and jazz.  

“There are things in our show like Benny Goodman and closing with Jerry Lee Lewis, but we also have some new things and other songs that I have written,” he said. “We’re trying to keep it fresh.”    

Speaking about how The War Memorial as a venue plays well into his type of shows, Bennett says the theater always was very good, providing the band with quality acoustics.  

“It was a pretty good size room and I remember the energy from the crowd being very strong,” he said. “No matter what the location at The War Memorial is, they’ve always been very comfortable.” 

The July 10 concert is free to attend and begins at 7:30 p.m. on the lakefront lawn of The War Memorial. To register, visit here.        

This year, as part of our 75th anniversary, The War Memorial will share stories from the public about the impact and experiences they have had at the nonprofit organization. Do you have a special War Memorial story or memory? Join us in telling #myWMstory and share yours!   

Col. Frederick Moulton Alger

By Betsy Alexander
Historical Education Coordinator, The War Memorial

Gen. Russell Alger’s youngest of his two sons, Frederick Moulton Alger, was born in Detroit at the Alger family’s Fort Street home on June 27, 1876. Brothers Russell Jr. and Fred were very close, frequently investing in ideas or goods that were presented by the other. Unlike most typical brothers, there was a lot of sharing of yachts and planes between them, too. As adults they built spectacular estates, “By-Way” and “The Moorings,” and lived about a quarter mile from each other on Jefferson Avenue/Lake Shore Road in the Pointes.

On May 2, 1901, Fred married Mary (Mignon) Eldridge Swift, a popular young socialite living two blocks away from the Alger homestead and began a family.

While Russell was busy looking after his father’s many companies and business assets, Fred was fighting in Cuba in the Spanish American War as a Captain under Gen. Shafter. Years later, he went on to fight in France in WWI commissioned as Lt. Col., Field Artillery. He received France’s Ordre national de la Légion d’honneur (Chevalier, National Order of the Legion of Honor). Although he followed the military path and was very much like his father, Fred strongly rebuffed attempts throughout his life to be drawn into the political arena.

Col. Frederick Moulton Alger, courtesy of the Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University.

In 1907, when Gen. Alger died in Washington D.C. while in office, Fred and his mother, Annette, were at the General’s bedside. It was up to Fred to do the initial death notifications and to try to locate his brother, who was yachting somewhere off the coast of Florida. Russell made it back just in time for his father’s funeral.

Fred invested with Russell in the Packard Motor Company, the Wright Brothers, and the General Aeroplane Company business ventures, decision-making and serving on their boards.

The entire Alger family were traditionally involved with all things horses, but Fred was a particularly skilled and avid fan. In addition to leisure riding, fox hunting, and competing, he owned a stable of thoroughbreds and raced them in prestigious contests around the country including the Grand National Steeplechase. A sweepstakes race was even named for him, The Col. Alger Memorial Handicap. He was considered royalty among horse circles in Metamora, Grosse Pointe, and well beyond Michigan.

Both Fred and Mary Alger were staunch, very vocal anti-Prohibition activists, and prominent sparring partners of the Anti-Saloon League and Methodist Board of Temperance, Prohibition, and Public Morals. They spoke frequently to organizations and media regarding repeal, and never turned down a good chance to argue their point publicly. Firebrand Mary was directly involved in Prohibition being repealed in Michigan in 1933 via the powerful action groups she headed; by 1935 she was a State Liquor Control Commissioner!

Both were extremely active in the community, solid leaders, famously philanthropic, involved in numerous cultural and musical causes, and had sizable personal followings (like influencers today). Fred was considered to be a warm and very humble gentleman, good to his word, a loyal comrade, and the ideal American citizen, per descriptions.

In April 1919, Fred was tasked by Teddy Roosevelt, Jr. to organize Michigan’s American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars organizations. The Gen. Russell A. Alger and Col. Frederick M. Alger VFW Post 995 was 1,000 members strong and active in Grosse Pointe for many years. In February of 1934, a separate Col. Frederick M. Alger American Legion Post 86 was created to “foster and emulate the spirit of comradeship, patriotism, and good citizenship as personified in the life of Col. Frederick M. Alger.” In April of 1935, the Frederick M. Alger Post 7 of the Polish Legion of American Veterans was formed. Alger American Legion Post 303 was based in Grosse Pointe and is still in existence, although the “Alger” was eventually dropped from their name.

As with his older brother, Russell, Fred’s charmed life took an abrupt and tragic turn.

At the 15th Annual National Convention of the American Legion the first week of October 1933, he had a seemingly minor incident: he bumped his left leg on his car door upon exiting. He had a slight bruise the next day when he returned home from Chicago and thought nothing more of it. On November 22, he awoke to find no feeling in his leg so checked into Detroit’s Charles Godwin Jennings Hospital. Dr. Jennings ran various tests and diagnosed a dangerous blood clot in a major artery of his leg; his left leg was amputated November 28. He was not recovering from the procedure as expected so he remained hospitalized. He then developed a second blood clot, this time in his lung, with devastating consequences.

Fred Alger died New Year’s Eve of 1933 still at Jennings Hospital; he was 57 years old. Mary Alger never left his side from November 22 until his death.

At Mary’s request, The American Legion handled all funeral arrangements, with assistance from the VFW, United Spanish War Veterans, and the military. Four honor guards stood silent watch at Col. Alger’s two hour public viewing, followed by the funeral mass all at Grosse Pointe Memorial Church where he and Mary had been so active. Thousands of members of various military units, the numerous clubs he belonged to, various veterans’ groups and posts, and the public followed the funeral cortege down Jefferson into Detroit, the route lined by hundreds of police officers. The American Legion’s ritualistic rites were solemnly performed during his internment in the Alger mausoleum at Edgewood Cemetery; another Alger soldier was lain to rest.

Among the many tributes following his passing were a few of the more unusual:

-A new yellow variety of Class 1 chrysanthemum bred by Vince DePetris was named “Col. Frederick M. Alger.” Its public debut was November 15, 1935, at the of 34th Annual Exhibition of the Chrysanthemum Society of America at Brodhead Armory.

-The Detroit Symphony Orchestra performed a musical tribute to their benefactor at the conclusion of their first season performance.

-The Forty and Eight’s Most Distinguished Medal from the American Legion was awarded posthumously March 17, 1934.

-A trophy, the R.O.T.C.’s manual of arms, and Alger Falls, a waterfall near Munising, MI, were both named for him.

-Alger Memorial Library was installed in Detroit’s American Legion Home, January 1951.

-A large bronze commemorative plaque was affixed to the wall outside the front entrance of the original Veterans Building by Detroit’s Common (City) Council, November 11, 1934.

“The history of the life of Col. Alger is an example of the part that may be played for good by a man of honor and conscience and in the finest sense of the word, a gentleman. The death of Frederick M. Alger leaves a sad gap in the citizenry of Detroit and Michigan.”

--The Detroit News, January 1, 1934

To learn more about the history of The War Memorial and the Alger Family, please contact Betsy at  balexander@warmemorial.org to schedule a tour.

Your Dad is Rad

By Betsy Alexander
Historical Education Coordinator, The War Memorial

What kind of dad was created if his father was a larger-than-life, extremely wealthy businessman, highly decorated military figure, and beloved American politician?

You got a firecracker like Russell A. Alger, Jr., General Alger’s eldest son and an aggressive investor, capitalist, sportsman, and philanthropist.

Like his father he inherited a great nose for sniffing out new businesses or ideas to invest in and they frequently bore fruit, making him millions. Junior made his money in lumber, railroads, automobiles, airplanes, and other holdings in addition to administering his father’s many and diverse business investments. He sat on numerous Boards of Directors and was on the membership rolls of over 30 clubs and organizations.

Josephine, Fay, Rusty, Russell III, and dog on the Lake, with the boathouse of “Edgemere” beyond.

Russell Jr. was “Rusty” to those who were brave enough to call him that. He was reportedly built like a boxer and had quite a temper if provoked. He lived for speed and competition in any form and energetically participated in all sports. He excelled in shooting, riding, fishing, golf, and all manner of water sports. He was a daredevil, an early civilian pilot, an accomplished sailor, speed boat aficionado, and avid yachtsman (he owned nine at last count). His favorite yacht, “Winchester” was docked at The Little Club. He kept his Wright biplane – equipped with pontoons - tied up to one of his mooring poles in the lake for quick getaways. One winter day, for kicks, he reportedly drove one of his Packard’s across Lake St. Clair to Canada.  

He liked to show and win with his prize bulldogs. The Alger’s had their own famous kennels to facilitate this, of course. 

Downstairs in his villa he commissioned the ultimate 1910 version of a man cave called his “Play Room” that banned all women, including family members. The room came equipped with a secret tunnel that originally led down to the boat slip and had a fireplace with secret panels for hiding liquor, valuables, guns, or a combination of the three. It was decorated like a 17th century British pub and got quite the workout hosting the days’ top names from industry and politics. 

Russell jumped in with both feet when Henry B. Joy approached him about investing in what was to become Packard Motors with the Packard brothers. They moved the new company to Detroit from Ohio and Russell became VP to Packard President Henry. Encountering another set of inventor brothers, Russell thought the Wright Brothers were on to something big commercially but needed help. He roped in his brother, Fred Alger, and they invested in and supplied business guidance to the Wrights’. Russell also formed Wright Brothers Inc. with buddies and fellow financial heavyweights, Cornelius Vanderbilt, III and August Belmont, to swat away patent lawsuits and invest in their inventions. In 1915, after the two Alger’s sold back their interests in the Wright Brothers’ business, they became investors in the nascent General Aeroplane Company, the first to build aircraft in Detroit. Although there was an important military commission and enthusiasm for potential wartime use, the company was dissolved in 1918. 

Russell also experienced a few terrifying events, two happening during the brief period the family were living in Grand-Mère, Quebec. During the first incident, in December of 1898, Russell severely injured his spine while tobogganing. He was completely paralyzed for a few days before he slowly recovered, an eerie precursor of his future fate. The following July, brush fires ripped through Grand-Mère, destroying the wooden Alger home and part of Laurentide Pulp and Paper, one of Gen. Alger’s large holdings. Russell and Marion ran for their lives carrying their two baby daughters. The family soon moved back to Detroit after the second event. 

Russell’s high-flying days came to an abrupt halt in the early 1920’s. Although no eyewitness accounts have yet been located, he reportedly fell off his horse twice in one day at the Hunt Club. The first time he remounted and continued on, but the second fall rendered him paralyzed completely on his left side. He was mostly wheelchair bound the rest of his life and his health was never the same, suffering additional strokes. Although Marion arranged various travel opportunities and the “Winchester” was pressed into frequent service, he was a shell of “the old Rusty.” He also had to divest from almost all of his business activities when his health first took a turn in 1920, further depressing the situation. 

Russell suffered another major stroke while yachting off the coast of Havana, Cuba late December of 1928, and underwent various medical procedures. He developed pneumonia following corrective surgery and died at age 56 on January 26, 1930, at St. Luke’s Hospital in Manhattan. After a large funeral service at “The Moorings” with 100 honorary pallbearers, he was interred in the Alger mausoleum at Elmwood Cemetery, Detroit. 

To learn more about the history of The War Memorial and the Alger Family, please contact Betsy at  balexander@warmemorial.org to schedule a tour.

Sounding off: former TV host recalls War Memorial experiences

He speaks about it in great detail and with a certain fondness.  

For over 30 years, John Prost hosted television shows from The War Memorial as part of WMTV, the former public access television station. Prost said the local station was established in the 1970s and had a studio at The War Memorial near where the present Grosse Pointe Artists Association gallery is. He estimates that he hosted 5,000 episodes over the decades, including the series “Coffee Break with John Prost.”   

He explained that in the 1960s in America, cable television was being widely introduced. 

“John Rickel was board president and thought that instead of giving the local cable system to a commercial outfit, we should do it ourselves,” Prost said. “In Grosse Pointe they started doing it themselves and hired staff.”  

Rickel is a past president, treasurer and board member of the Grosse Pointe War Memorial Association.  

“The reason I came into the picture was that since the station was owned by the five Grosse Pointes and The War Memorial, they felt they needed a cable board,” Prost said.  

At that time, Prost was mayor pro tem of Grosse Pointe Park, a position he served in from 1979-1987. The 87-year-old has been a resident of Grosse Pointe Park since 1978. 

“I was over here so often and got to know everybody,” he said. “There was a fellow doing an interview show, he left, and they asked me if I could do it. I said I wasn’t a media person.”  

Lo and behold, Prost said once he started hosting shows on the station, it became a terrific endeavor.  

Speaking about station programming, Prost said many of the plays put on by the Grosse Pointe Theatre would be shown, as well as various Grosse Pointe Public Schools functions. 

His standard show was an interview format, lasting about 15 minutes, with two shows in any given week. 

“When I started, I couldn’t have everything on from Grosse Pointe, so I started highlighting nonprofits,” he said. “The funny part about it was that I talked to a lot of celebrities from Detroit and the reason I knew them was because I was president of the Detroit Athletic Club.”  

What Prost found was that those in the public light want to be on television, regardless of the audience size. 

“I was very clear that this is just cable television in the Grosse Pointes and Harper Woods,” he said. 

Folks that Prost had on his shows over the years included former Detroit Zoological Society CEO Ron Kagan, former Detroit Mayor Dave Bing, and Bob Bury, the former executive director and CEO of the Detroit Historical Society and current president and CEO of Fair Lane, the home of Clara and Henry Ford. 

Looking back on his years at the station, Prost said he enjoyed meeting new people and interviewing them. 

“I was never paid for it and we were successful doing it,” he said. 

Aside from his work at the station, Prost had a career in the insurance industry, retiring from Pacific Life in 2001. He also was a board member at The War Memorial in 2012 and 2013.       

This year, as part of our 75th anniversary, The War Memorial will share stories from the public about the impact and experiences they have had at the nonprofit organization. Do you have a special War Memorial story or memory? Join us in telling #myWMstory and share yours!   

How Do You Keep Your Heroes?

By Betsy Alexander
Historical Education Coordinator, The War Memorial

For one day each year we remember our war dead and those presumed dead. This year, that one day is May 27.

Those who passed were our honorable military personnel: men and women who deployed in times of war to do their part to defend our country. Some were underage kids, who lied on their Registration Cards and enlisted with their buddies anticipating adventure. Others were scared young men who dreaded hearing their numbers called as each new war ground on.

We received letters from them, usually redacted, and received weeks or months after they were written. They usually tried not to worry us, as they experienced the horrors of war firsthand. They stayed focused on telling their folks how much they missed home and reassured them they were okay. Parents could never know how terrifying war really was in a jungle, or a desert, caught behind enemy lines feeling alone or forgotten.

Don’t tell them about your new job either: Underwater Demolition Team, gunner, medic, walking point, tunnel rat, Graves Registration Service team. Sometimes the truth is best not known at home. Ever.  

They couldn’t know your actual location, nor hear about watching your brothers-in-arms being blown up right next to you in the trench. Why were you spared?  

Some died before they even made it overseas, during training or other mishaps. Grosse Pointe Farms’ naval air cadet Joseph Hudson Webber died during a training flight in Texas. He was two weeks short of earning his wings. 2nd Lt. Kenneth M. Dewey of Grosse Pointe Shores was killed along with 17 other men in the crash of two military planes over Iowa. Both Grosse Pointe service men, both during WWII. One from a prominent family (his father was president of J. L. Hudson’s), one was not. Death did not discriminate; just ask the Brush’s, Ford’s, Vernier’s, Livingston’s, and Alger’s.  

Grosse Pointe High School grad Ens. Benjamin R. Marsh, Jr. had the distinction of being the first local resident killed in WWII. Ben was on the USS Arizona (BB-39) stationed at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. A destroyer-escort named for him, Marsh (DE-699), was commissioned in January 1944 and served in both WWII and the Korean War in addition to other important escort and training duties later. One battle star for WWII and four battle stars for Korean War service were awarded the ship. Ens. Marsh would have been proud.  

There were also plenty of Pointe service men who were taken as prisoners of war or were declared Missing In Action. We must assume that these brave men are most likely deceased and that their families may never get to lay their remains to rest.  

 Fighter pilot LTJG Richard H. Bridge went missing in action December of 1944 somewhere in the southwest Pacific. Pfc. Camille Vervaecke disappeared February of ‘44.  

 There are still 2,451 Michigan military personnel missing in action from WWII alone. 

 November 24, 1950, Cpl. George P. Grifford wrote his parents he was taken prisoner but was “Feeling fine and you should pray for me.” Less than a week later they received a wire that he was MIA, and later “presumably died in a prison camp.” His remains were finally recovered in 2016 and he was laid to rest at Arlington Cemetery. Cpl. Alfred B. Lindley disappeared while fighting in Korea February 12, 1951; he was a teacher and WWII vet.  

 We are without 330 Michigan souls who arrived in Korea, but never made it out. They are still MIA until their bodies are recovered and identified; many never will be. 

 HN John M. Myers was a 19-year-old naval hospitalman from the Woods when he was killed by friendly fire January 25, 1966, in Quang Nam. 

 1st Lt. Peter E. Odenweller received the Silver Star for exemplary courage under fire as Infantry Unit Commander with C Co, 2nd Bn, 18th Inf., 1st Inf. Div. His death was June 30, 1966, exact location in Vietnam unknown; he hailed from the Farms. 

 Grosse Pointe Wood’s Sp. 4 Vincent F. Murphy began his tour of duty with the 196th Infantry BDE July 13, 1966. He stepped on a landmine in South Vietnam a little over two months later, September 18, 1966. 

 Farms’ resident and Grosse Pointe South High grad, Pfc. Thomas James Dion, would have been at MSU studying music and still playing in various rock bands had he not been drafted. He arrived in Vietnam May of ‘69 with the 101st Airborne and died when they were ambushed three months later on July 26; Pfc. Dion was 20 years old. 

 Lt. Neil Hayes, Jr. of 256 Kerby was shot down over Vietnam in his helicopter. LTJG Glenn Kalember, 1374 Anita, was killed while flying over his parent’s summer cottage near Traverse City; his horrified folks witnessed the crash. Two different countries, both Vietnam War fliers, both dead. 

 Lance Cpl. Michael Synod’s father, John, was a proud WWII veteran and longtime D.A.V. member. On November 1, 1968, Michael was killed by a sniper in Quang Nam Province. Susan Holmes, of the Detroit Free Press, wrote, “He was awarded more ceremony in death than he was in life.” At his funeral, politicians and numerous media outlets mingled with his grieving friends and family as the pastor reminded them, “A hero belongs to eternity.” This particular hero was just 18 years old. 

 Grosse Pointe Park’s Army Sp-5 Janis Miculs was listed as MIA, then later confirmed dead in Phu Bon in April of ’68. He worked hard keeping our Huey’s airborne while he was alive. 

 Farms’ resident, 1st Lt. Neil B. Hayes, Jr., was killed in a copter crash in Quang Ngai. He was with the 52nd Infantry, 198th Infantry BDE. His tour started March 21, 1970, and his death followed soon after on May 22. 

 Grosse Pointe High School grad Sgt. Kenneth D. Shoaps was killed while patrolling the demilitarized zone on May 23, 1969. The Woods resident was with the 506th Infantry, 101 Airborne Division in Thua Thien at the time of his death. 

 Another Grosse Point High grad, A1C James B. Young of McKinley Ave., was a passenger on a transport plane when it went down between Phan Rang and Cam Rahn Bay on November 29,1969. He died exactly eight months after his arrival in Vietnam. 

 48 Michigan residents were deployed to Vietnam and never came home, still officially recognized as MIAs and POWs by their country. Their final chapters are waiting to be written. 

 Operation Iraqi Freedom claimed Lt. Col. Joseph “Trane” McCloud of the Park, December 4, 2006, and Sgt. Peter C. Neesley of the Farms, December 25, 2007; it was a terrible surprise Christmas visit from the military for his loved ones to receive. 

Each of these Grosse Pointe men and teens had lives here before being called into service; some of their names may even be familiar to you. Are these former neighbors, classmates, friends, and relatives not worth remembering more than one appointed day each year? Some did not choose to go, and some did so very willingly; but they all went to foreign lands and did their best for their country under unimaginable conditions.  

Our heroes must be honored and remembered every day.   

“Time will not dim the glory of their deeds” 

--John J. Pershing, General of the Armies 

*Special thanks to Marty Eddy, National League of American Prisoners & Missing in Southeast Asia and Lisa Lark. 

To learn more about the history of The War Memorial and the Alger Family, please contact Betsy at  balexander@warmemorial.org to schedule a tour.

The story behind an historic American flag at The War Memorial

A piece of World War II history isn’t just displayed at The War Memorial around D-Day, rather it serves as a remembrance of that pivotal day in history all year round.

In 2019, John Steininger donated a U.S. flag to The War Memorial, but it’s not your typical Old Glory. The flag was carried by members of the Army’s 29th Infantry Division at Omaha Beach in Normandy, France on D-Day – June 6, 1944.

“It would have been out front of the command post,” he said. “It was not the kind of flag that was flown on a flagpole. The flag was part of the headquarters company that was in charge of maintaining the 29th Division command post.”

The framed flag, with 48 stars, is proudly displayed on a wall in the Reflection Room of the Fred M. Alger Center.

“I’ve been collecting military artifacts since 1963,” Steininger said. “In my travels whenever I went to a different city, I would run an ad in the local newspaper, to purchase military items.”

Steininger, of Grosse Pointe Farms, is the former owner of Grosse Pointe Moving & Storage. He estimates that over the years he’s been to The War Memorial hundreds of times, from school functions when he was growing up, to being a member of the Men’s Club of Grosse Pointe, and even his sister’s wedding reception in 1978.

It was in Madison, Wisconsin around 10 years ago that Steininger purchased the flag from the son of a World War II veteran. The gentleman’s father was a sergeant in the headquarters company of the 29th Infantry Division.

“Of all of the divisions in World War II, the 29th Division was the second highest in the number of casualties, behind the 3rd Division,” he said. “They didn’t play much of a role in the war prior to the D-Day invasion. They spearheaded the landing at Omaha Beach.”

By the end of D-Day, an estimated 2,400 men from the 1st and 29th divisions had become casualties on Omaha Beach.

As Steininger explains it, the headquarters company was responsible for maintaining the division, and traveling with its members wherever it went.

“That flag was moved with them every time and went all the way across Europe,” he said. “Headquarters company landed at 3 in the afternoon on D-Day. Among other things, the sergeant was in charge of the flag, and he brought it home at the end of the war where it sat undisplayed in a locker.”

Upon talking with the former sergeant’s son, the two agreed the flag was of historical significance and that it was shameful to not have it on display.

Shortly after purchasing it, Steininger was contacted by The War Memorial to see about giving the flag a permanent home at the nonprofit organization.

“I told the former president that I think I had just what you would like to have,” he said. “All American flags in my mind should be honored to some degree. The War Memorial is where is should be.”

This year, as part of our 75th anniversary, The War Memorial will share stories from the public about the impact and experiences they have had at the nonprofit organization. Do you have a special War Memorial story or memory? Join us in telling #myWMstory and share yours!   

The Mother of “The Moorings”

By Betsy Alexander
Historical Education Coordinator, The War Memorial

*This story was originally published in May 2024.

Marion Jarves Alger was born in Detroit in May of 1878. She was the granddaughter of famous Boston and Sandwich Glass magnate, Deming Jarves, and daughter of Michigan Carbon Works founder, Deming Jarves, Jr., both extremely successful businessmen.

She met, and then married, Russell Alger, Jr. in Detroit in January of 1896, the eldest son of one of Michigan’s most famous citizens in history, Gen. Russell A. Alger. Both Marion and Russell grew up during the Gilded Age, in the public’s eye, and from very privileged backgrounds.

By the following January she had given birth to Josephine, quickly followed in September of 1898 by Caroline Fay.

Marion Alger lawn bowls with granddaughter, Marion Miller, Fay’s daughter.

Marion and her two toddlers moved to Grand-Mère, Quebec in spring 1898 to join Russell, who was already there setting up his father’s latest business. That December, the young family were out playing in the snow watching Russell and another friend on a toboggan. The two men hit a rut and ended up airborne, with the friend landing hard atop Russell in a deep ditch. When Russell attempted to get up, he found himself unable to move. He ended up bedridden for several days completely paralyzed, an ominous precursor of his future.

The following July, Russell, Marion and the two little girls fled for their lives when brushfires burned down their house and a portion of the huge Alger pulp and paper mill that had just opened for business. These harrowing experiences in Canada stayed with the young couple for the rest of their lives.

They returned to Detroit just as General Alger resigned under a dark but unwarranted cloud of national public suspicion as McKinley’s Secretary of War. Some 150,000 excited well-wishers crammed the train depot for his short drive to the Alger homestead on Fort St. Marion and the other Alger women were at the family residence to welcome him along with the cadre of political and society VIPs who accompanied him. They graciously greeted everyone and put on a fine homecoming display during a time of enormous family emotion and public scrutiny.

By October 1902, Russell and his friend, Henry B. Joy, were busy with the serious business of moving what became Packard Motors to Detroit, soliciting more investors, and involving Albert Kahn in the process of building a massive new factory for them. Meanwhile, Marion was busy creating something big also: their only son, Russell III, was born in July of 1903.

As Russell continued traveling, administering his father’s and his rapidly growing business assets, Marion was home raising their young children. She was already involved in Detroit causes and national issues like women’s suffrage, as they were still living downtown on East Jefferson.

As the children got a bit older, they could better enjoy their extended summer stays in rented “cottages” on Mackinac Island and in Grosse Pointe. It was now the Edwardian age, and the children had a dare devil investor father, a charismatic activist mother, and a great deal of money; life was great as an Alger!

In early 1907, Russell purchased the Theodore Hinchman property at 32 Lake Shore Road and the process began to demolish it to build the Alger’s dream home, “The Moorings.”

By January of 1911, Marion was living fulltime in Grosse Pointe Farms and her commanding organizational skills and laser sharp community focus really emerged. First, she co-founded the Neighborhood Club to “address the area’s social service, educational, and recreational needs” of year-round residents. She was elected its president several times between 1911 and approximately 1946 and was incredibly influential as a key board member throughout the duration. Over the years she was involved, countless other programs and services were added to benefit the community, such as a welfare office and, during World War II, a Civil Defense headquarters, and an official U.S.O. center for the thousands of troops shipping out.

In 1913, Marion added to her Neighborhood Club responsibilities. She was vice president of the management board and fundraising chairman at Women’s Hospital and Infants’ Home, today’s Hutzel Hospital. This was a very rare all-women run medical organization and board, with all-women “house doctors” at a charity unwed mothers’ hospital and home. After earlier years’ mismanagement, it became a remarkably smooth-running organization once Marion and Mrs. Henry Bourne Joy were involved as the two VPs to President Mrs. Frederick H. Holt. Many other major institutions adopted their business and financial practices after the turnaround, unheard of for the day.

In 1915, Marion’s Neighborhood Club co-sponsored the first Grosse Pointe Public Library.

With her eldest daughter newly married and gone and the other two now teens, Marion became further involved with the Red Cross and war effort in 1917. As an authorized Red Cross instructor, she went into area schools and the greater Detroit community to teach the approved method of sewing bandages and surgical dressings for soldiers. She was also charged with registering sewing volunteers and groups. Large classes at the Packard plant, J.L. Hudson’s, and other major companies soon followed thanks to her polite persistence. Marion even tended to wounded U.S. soldiers at hospitals in France while visiting her father, who had moved there after leaving Detroit.

She became very motivated by and politically involved in what was commonly known as the Nurses Bill (officially the Lewis-Raker Bill) in September of 1918. A group of influential Americans tried to address the ill treatment of female nurses in the military by advocating for their inclusion in military rank and pay. The bill initially failed in July of 1919 – the (male) U.S. Surgeon General opposed it - but a few watered-down provisions were later passed in June of 1920 as part of the National Defense Act. American nurses in the military did not receive the full parity she sought until 1947, after World War II concluded.

March 13, 1919, Cottage Hospital opened initially as part of the Neighborhood Club, which was pressed into action housing ill patients in their gym and coordinating their travel to farther away Detroit hospitals during the 1918 Spanish Flu epidemic. The original hospital building was a former “summer cottage” hence its quaint name. Marion and her peers were responsible for opening this first hospital for the region. They also advocated for and received a new structure in the late ‘20’s when the original Cottage building became too small to serve the community.

In the early 1920’s, personal tragedy struck: Russell became permanently paralyzed after a riding accident. Marion reportedly nursed him herself instead of relying on in-house medical personnel. Russell had to shift his lifestyle and business dealing into low gear; Marion continued her community involvement, but Russell was her number one priority. As Russell’s health would allow, Marion would carefully organize yacht outings and vacations so that he could enjoy himself as best possible from his wheelchair.

The Neighborhood Club Thrift Shop started in 1928 as a large rummage sale organized by Marion at the Neighborhood Club and was wildly successful; the Thrift Shop continues in business to this day.

Later that year, on Dec. 7, while yachting off the coast of Havana, Russell suffered a debilitating stroke. He downplayed the incident, but his health was much worse than most realized.

On Jan. 26, 1930, he was in New York City undergoing corrective surgery following his stroke when he contracted pneumonia and died at age 57. After a funeral at “The Moorings” Russell was interred at Elmwood Cemetery’s Alger mausoleum along with his parents.

With her three children and Russell all gone, Marion did not wish to stay alone at her beautiful estate she had shared with them for 20 years. After some traveling, she made plans for a new home and gardens to be built in the Farms; she moved into her new home on Provencal in 1934.

But what to do with her beloved “baby”, “The Moorings?”

On Marion’s behalf, Edsel B. Ford, acting as President of the Arts Commission at the Detroit Institute of Arts, brokered a deal for the museum to have her estate. The DIA happily took them up on the offer and opened the Detroit Institute of Arts Russell A. Alger House museum May 5, 1936. The Alger’s had a longstanding relationship with the DIA, having donated many wonderful pieces over the years. Marion donated the furnishings to them when she left them her estate plus paid to have Ellen Shipman completely redesign the formal gardens for better foot traffic. This is when the famous knot gardens were installed, another Marion gift to her community in 1937.

Unfortunately, the two consecutive Detroit mayors were against the Alger House museum and were successful in shutting it down in June of 1948. The estate reverted to Marion and again she thought hard to leave it to a worthy cause benefitting her community.

There had been much clamoring for an appropriate memorial to the veterans and those killed in World War II from the Pointes. Fundraising had been underway for one, along with plans for a new Library for the School District. Marion offered her estate as a combination of the two, but her offer was rebuffed. Marion’s nephew, Alger Shelden, was the head of the memorial drive fundraising and suggested they marry her desire of leaving the estate to the community for educational and cultural programs with the World War II memorial idea. Marion had lost her grandson at Guadalcanal, so she was very much personally invested in this also. She quickly signed off on the concept and gifted her house to the Grosse Pointe War Memorial Association in March of 1949.

Although she hadn’t lived at her former estate in years, Marion continued to pay for much of the annual garden replanting costs and upkeep as she had during the DIA’s tenure. Whether she was a War Memorial board member or not, she oversaw things and offered politely pointed comments when she wanted something immediately addressed. In spring of 1961, she and Josephine paid to have the Dining Room paneling stripped and restored to its pre-DIA appearance.

When Marion passed Dec. 16, 1962, Grosse Pointe lost much more than a philanthropist, community activist, social leader, and skillful gardener. We lost a woman who repeatedly fought for what she thought was right and what was needed and sought to deliver both for our benefit. She loved her community dearly and used her social status, power, and money for positive change. She was an exemplary example of noblesse oblige and one of the truly outstanding matriarchs of the Grosse Pointes.

To learn more about the history of The War Memorial and the Alger Family, please contact Betsy at  balexander@warmemorial.org to schedule a tour.

Grosse Pointe Park couple stays active in support of The War Memorial

A unique asset that very few communities have. That’s one way a local couple views The War Memorial. 

Bob and Mary Ann Bury, of Grosse Pointe Park, have been coming to The War Memorial for decades, ranging from appearing on TV shows, to attending fundraisers and galas, to driver education for their daughter, and more. 

The Bury’s recall one of their first interactions at The War Memorial being with their daughter Meredith when she was on the Merry Music Makers Show in 1998. 

“We did some different things with the television station,” Mary Ann, who grew up in Dearborn, said. “She was on that show when she was about 4.” 

WMTV was the former public access television station that operated at The War Memorial. 

A full circle moment for the family came in 2023 when Meredith, who also took driver education classes at The War Memorial, had her bridal shower here.  

“My personal first impressions were in the mid-1990s with how the location on the water is spectacular, and the juxtaposition of the beautiful Alger Home and how nice it is for the different events,” Mary Ann said.  

Over the years, Mary Ann has been involved with the Grosse Pointe Garden Center and has taken a few classes at The War Memorial. 

Bob, who grew up in Harper Woods, also was part of the cable television station and took part in interviews with John Prost, the former host of “Coffee Break with John Prost” many times. 

“We would talk about things going on in the community and it served as a good way to reach the Grosse Pointe community,” Bob said. “We talked about my work at the Detroit Historical Society.” 

Bob formerly worked as the executive director and CEO of the Detroit Historical Society. He is currently the president and CEO of Fair Lane, the home of Clara and Henry Ford.

The Bury’s were involved in the early days with the Rotary Club of Grosse Pointe that met regularly at The War Memorial. They have also participated in Toys for Tots fundraisers, attended wedding receptions, SummerFest concerts, and more. 

The next event the couple will attend at The War Memorial is An Evening of Red, White & Blue on May 22. It will mark their seventh time at The War Memorial’s annual fundraising gala. Funds raised at the gala will play a pivotal role in restoring and preserving The War Memorial’s historic building and grounds, specifically the 1910 Alger House.  

“It was really nice last year,” Mary Ann said about the gala. “The fact that there are service people in attendance certainly adds to it.”

Speaking about Les Braves II: At Water’s Edge, Bob mentioned that the sculpture, which pays tribute to the D-Day operation of World War II, is a great addition to the Lake St. Clair waterfront and for The War Memorial. 

“It drives it closer to the mission of serving veterans,” he said. “The War Memorial has a unique position in the community in that it is very accessible and ordinary in that it’s nearby and familiar, but especially now it can deliver a very memorable and special experience for visitors. It contributes to the quality of life we have in the community. It’s a unique asset that very few communities have.”  

This year, as part of our 75th anniversary, The War Memorial will share stories from the public about the impact and experiences they have had at the nonprofit organization. Do you have a special War Memorial story or memory? Join us in telling #myWMstory and share yours!