Memorial Day
On this reverent Memorial Day, we gather on the lakefront lawn of the historic Alger House, where we will pause and reflect on the selfless souls who gave everything to defend our freedoms.
They are our fathers and our brothers, our mothers and our sisters. They are our friends and our neighbors. They are the heroes next door. Their stories of sacrifice and courage must be preserved and shared with every generation so that we may as a community always be mindful of the selfless, brave individuals that are responsible for keeping our nation free.
This time-honored ceremony will include musical tributes, remarks of remembrance and honor, and a recitation of the names of Grosse Pointe residents who lost their lives in service to our country.
This year’s keynote speaker is Coast Guard Capt. Rick Armstrong, Commander, USCG Sector Detroit.
May 25, 2026
10:00am
The lakefront lawn of the historic Alger House.
Free and open to the public, but registration is required. Please register at the link below.
About Capt. Rick Armstrong
Captain Rick Armstrong assumed duty as the Commander of Sector Detroit in June 2023. He oversees eleven subordinate units with an area of responsibility stretching from Vermillion, Ohio west and northward beyond Tawas, Michigan along 427 miles of international border with Canada through Lakes Erie, St. Clair and Huron and along the Detroit and St. Clair Rivers.
Prior to assuming command of Sector Detroit, Captain Armstrong served as Deputy Sector Commander in Key West, Florida where he oversaw ten subordinate units and directed law enforcement, search and rescue, and environmental response operations across a 55,000 square nautical mile area encompassing the Florida Keys and bordering the territorial seas of Cuba and the Bahamas.
Originally from Syracuse, New York, Captain Armstrong graduated with honors from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. He also attended Syracuse University and earned a Master of Business Administration and a Master of Public Administration. Over the course of Captain Armstrong’s 25-year military career, he earned the Response Operations Ashore and Advanced Boat Forces Insignias amongst other military decorations, including the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, and other personal and unit awards.
About Memorial Day
Observed on the last Monday in May, Memorial Day is an annual day of remembrance to honor all those who died in service to the U.S. during peacetime and war. Many people visit cemeteries and memorials, and volunteers place American flags on graves at national cemeteries.
While Memorial Day honors those who gave the ultimate sacrifice, Veterans Day — November 11 — celebrates the service of all U.S. military veterans. The day is largely intended to thank living veterans for their service, to acknowledge that their contributions to national security are appreciated, and to underscore the fact that all who served — not only those who died — have sacrificed and done their duty.
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