City Approves Memorial Day Parade—with New Chair

Farmington City Council members approved a special event request so the annual Memorial Day Parade, sponsored by the , can go on as usual.

Well, almost as usual.

Longtime chairperson Wally Christensen won't be leading the parade this year. Instead, it was Farmington Hills resident Andrew Raczkowski who made the event request at Monday night's City Council meeting. He said the May 30 parade will start at Farmington Plaza at Grand River and Mooney Streets and end at in downtown Farmington.

Raczkowski said he was asking not only for the council's consent but also members' participation. Traditionally, officials from both Farmington and Farmington Hills are part of the parade, which has included elected officials, American Legion dignitaries, local civic groups, police and fire, and high school bands.

A U.S. Army major, "Rocky" Raczkowski served in the Michigan House from 1997-2003, representing Farmington and Farmington Hills. He is a lifelong Farmington Hills resident and alumni, with a 24-year record of military service.

No information about why Christensen stepped down was provided Monday. He is a former post commander and is currently listed as chaplain on the post's Web site. Among many other activities, he has organized the post's annual Sept. 11 ceremony, honoring police officers and firefighters, and the annual ceremony, held at the war monument in Memorial Park.