This fall, The War Memorial’s Vietnam War Commemoration Celebration continues with a couple of special appearances. The first of which happens on Saturday, Oct. 4 at 10 a.m. when author Elizabeth Patridge leads a conversation about her 2018 nonfiction book “Boots on the Ground America’s War in Vietnam.”  

Ed Zier, the author of “Undaunted,” will be the featured speaker at The War Memorial’s 9/11 Service of Remembrance. At the time of 9/11, Zier was 43 and worked as the chief operating officer of Baseline Financial Services. The business was headquartered on the 77th and 78th floors of the South Tower at the World Trade Center, officially known as Two World Trade Center.

It’s been nearly 24 years since the deadliest terrorist attack in U.S. history, and The War Memorial is doing its part to commemorate that catastrophic day.

In listening to a Vietnam War veteran tell a story, Elizabeth Patridge could tell he was not over that wartime experience. That interaction in the 1980s was the impetus behind a book that will be discussed at The War Memorial on Saturday, Oct. 4.

Chris Hemler will be at The War Memorial on Aug. 27 at 6 p.m. for SummerFest Lecture: Motown Meets the Movement. This lecture explores the transformative role of music in the 1960s, focusing on the rise of protest songs that reflected the era’s social and political upheaval, amid the Vietnam War.

The War Memorial is calling on the greater Grosse Pointe community to help honor more than 170 local service members who gave their lives in military service. Through a new book project, families, neighbors and friends are invited to share photos, memories and stories to help preserve the legacies of these fallen heroes for generations to come.

As America’s 250th birthday draws closer, The War Memorial is excited to announce it is the recipient of a $50,000 grant from the America250MI Committee. 

The War Memorial has been awarded a $20,000 grant from the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan to support a yearlong series of programs commemorating the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War.

The War Memorial has been awarded a significant grant from the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, joining a select group of non-profit organizations across the state receiving funds to strengthen and sustain Michigan museums. 

Tommy Dilger will be at The War Memorial on June 18 for a documentary film screening that is part of The War Memorial’s commemorative series, “Conflict and Healing: Exploring the Legacy of the Vietnam War.”

What do you get when you add the month of May and The War Memorial? Memorial Week. 

The War Memorial is excited to announce the lineup for SummerFest 2025, featuring a vibrant mix of live music and, new this year, two outdoor movie nights. From jazz and country to party hits and Motown soul, this year’s Summerfest has something for everyone.

Hailed as one of the most powerful voices in war literature, bestselling author and decorated Vietnam veteran Karl Marlantes brings unparalleled depth to the realities of combat and its lasting effects on the human spirit.