Allen Park Mayor Gail McLeod speaks during the May 18 Allen Park Memorial Day Ceremony in Champaign Park.
By SUE SUCHYTA
Sunday Times Newspapers
ALLEN PARK – Restarting the city’s Memorial Day Parade, a desire of the late Mayor and City Councilmember Tony Lalli, came true May 18 with his family serving as the parade’s grand marshals.
Lalli, an Italian immigrant who died Feb. 24, was a U.S. Navy veteran and a proud “American Italian.” He raised his family in Allen Park and worked as a skilled tradesman for the Ford Motor Co.
He was also active in many civic, philanthropic, church and veteran organizations.
Renee (Lalli) Sanchez, daughter of the later Tony Lalli, speaks during the May 18 Allen Park Memorial Day Ceremony in Champaign Park as her mother, Maria Lalli, listens.
The parade, which began at 3 p.m. March 18 near the city’s historical museum, followed Champaign Road to Champaign Park.
The parade featured the Allen Park and Ecorse high school marching bands, as well as the Plymouth Fife and Drum Corps.
Local officials, including U.S. Rep. Shri Thanedar (D-13th District) and state Rep. Tullio Liberati Jr. (D-2nd District) joined the parade, as did Mayor Gail McLeod and members of the City Council.
The Livonia Police Department Honor Guard participated, as did the Vietnam Veterans of America Downriver Chapter 259, the Knights of Columbus – Father Alfred Saylor 3774 of Allen Park, Scouts, the Allen Park Beautification Commission, the St. Francis Cabrini High School robotics team, and police and firefighting vehicles.
At the end of the parade route, attendees gathered at Champaign Park to honor the city’s veterans, with a special tribute to Lalli.
The Livonia Police Department Honor Guard performed the flag ceremony, with Melanie Walker of the Allen Park High School Marching Band playing the “Star-Spangled Banner” and “Taps” on the trumpet, and bagpiper Todd Wyber playing a lament.
Elmer Boutin, 1st Vice Commander of American Legion Post 409, served as master of ceremonies.
Thanedar spoke, as did McLeod, followed by members of the Lalli family: Tony’s son, Joseph; his daughter, Renee Sanchez; and his wife, Maria.
Thanedar said he was there to honor the memory of the heroes that made the ultimate sacrifice for the country’s peace and safety.
He said he was excited when he was able to immigrate to the United States from India in 1979 when he was 24 years old, and he became a U.S. citizen in 1988, which he said was “the proudest day of my life.”
Thanedar said one of his priorities is to focus of veterans benefits, and to address the high rate of homelessness, mental health needs and suicide rates among veterans.
“We owe our veterans the services that they deserve and need, and in Congress every day we are fighting, putting together and sponsoring bills to help our veterans get the services that they need,” he said.
Bagpiper Todd Wyber plays during the May 18 Allen Park Memorial Day Ceremony in Champaign Park.
McLeod said many lives were sacrificed to protect our rights and freedoms, as well as the rights and freedoms of others.
“As a nation, for every life we lost, we lost a part of our future,” she said. “We can best honor those who died for our rights and freedoms by leading our lives so that we ensure those rights and freedoms are guaranteed for everyone who is alive today.”
Lalli’s family spoke of Tony’s deep roots in the community and his love for his adopted country.
Maria Lalli said her late husband knew the importance of being involved and bringing community members together.
She said he proudly served as a Navy Seabee during the Vietnam War.
“He knew the importance of pride for your country, community, faith, family and service to others,” Maria Lalli said. “Tony was a great listener, approachable, inclusive, a born leader who found the good in everyone and his bright light shined wherever he went.”
She said he was the ultimate goodwill ambassador for Allen Park, where he touched many lives and helped so many.
Sanchez, said her father embodied the spirit of service as both a proud Navy veteran and Allen Park resident.
“My father believed in duty, not just to his country, but to his family, his community and to the values that make this nation strong,” she said. “He served with honor, and he never sought recognition, but today, we give it to him, not just for his service in uniform, but for the life he lived after and the amount of advocacy and dedication he served to this city he loved so much.”
Sanchez said it was with pride that they brought back the Memorial Day Parade tradition to Allen Park, per his wishes.
“He understood how important it is to honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice to this country,” she said. “He taught me that patriotism isn’t just about waving a flag: it’s about living with integrity, standing up for what’s right, and helping others even when no one is watching.”
The Vietnam Veterans of America Downriver Chapter 259 participates in the May 18 Allen Park Memorial Day Parade.
The Ecorse High School Mighty Marching Raiders perform in the May 18 Allen Park Memorial Day Parade.
The Plymouth Fife & Drum Corps performs in the May 18 Allen Park Memorial Day Parade.
Above and below, the Allen Park High School Marching Band performs in the May 18 Allen Park Memorial Day Parade.
The Livonia Police Department Honor Guard participates in the May 18 Allen Park Memorial Day ceremony in Champaign Park, while Melanie Walker (left) of the Allen Park High School Marching Band performs.
U.S. Rep. Shri Thanedar (D-13th District) speaks during the May 18 Allen Park Memorial Day Ceremony in Champaign Park.
Maria Lalli (at podium, center), wife of the late Tony Lalli, speaks during the May 18 Memorial Day Ceremony in Champaign Park as her son, Joseph Lalli, and her daughter, Renee (Lalli) Sanchez, stand with her.
Joseph Lalli (at podium), and Renee (Lalli) Sanchez, the late Tony Lalli’s son and daughter, speak during the May 18 Allen Park Memorial Day Ceremony.
A military veteran places a wreath May 18 during the Allen Park Memorial Day Ceremony in Champaign Park.