By JAMES MITCHELL
Sunday Times Newspapers
LINCOLN PARK — Few holidays and traditions are as identifiably American as Memorial Day and parades in tribute to a nation’s fallen warriors.
A group of residents led by Chris Dardzinski hope to bring back a long-lost tradition in the city with a patriotic parade scheduled for May 19.
Volunteers have started the groundwork for the event, and are hosting an “all you can eat” spaghetti dinner and Chinese auction fundraiser beginning at 4 p.m. Feb. 8, at VFW Post 552, 1125 Fort Street. All proceeds from the event will go toward restoring the parade.
Tickets to the dinner are $10 for adults, $25 for families and $5 for children six to 12 years old. A cash bar — with 50 percent of the proceeds going toward the parade — will be available. “Chef John” from Motor City Casino cook for the event, sponsored by the Lincoln Park Memorial Parade Committee and VFW.
Among other highlights for the event, Dardzinski is planning a city float and is seeking testimonials from Lincoln Park residents in honor of loved ones who paid the ultimate sacrifice. The testimonials will be placed in a time capsule on the city float during the parade, and buried at Memorial Park.